GARY Waddock hit back at Graham Westley's claims Stuart Beavon would be a big asset for his side - saying he comes with a price tag to match.

Preston North End manager Westley stated publicly this week Wanderers had snubbed his bid to take striker Beavon to Deepdale, adding that negotiations between Blues and the Lancashire side were ongoing.

But as far as Waddock's concerned the negotiations Westley referred to mean only one thing - stump up the cash we think he's worth or he's going nowhere.

The Blues boss said: "He's an asset to this football club and I believe the comment was made he would be a big asset if he went up to Preston.

"If you've got a big asset you've got to match the asking price the club wants. Until any club matches that figure, Stuart Beavon will be staying here."

Westley told Preston's official website after Monday night's League Cup win over Huddersfield: "We have made a bid, it is no secret, and we are hoping that Stuart Beavon will come here and be a part of what we are doing and we would love to have him here.

"He is a big asset, who will make a difference, but negotiations are ongoing and we are hoping they will come to a conclusion and it will be great to have him at this football club."

Waddock said he hasn't spoken to Westley, or anyone else at Preston, since he made those comments.

And he took a swipe at the way the former Stevenage boss publicly declared his interest in the 25 goal striker, who was voted Wanderers' player of the year last season.

He said: "Everybody deals with it in their own particular way. If clubs want to go public with players that they are after, so be it, but we don't. We do it in a different manner."

Waddock said however his star man hasn't had his head turned despite the summer-long speculation that his linked him with a move away from Adams Park.

Championship Millwall reportedly cooled their interest in the frontman during the close season and Beavon was also linked with Charlton Athletic.

The rumour mill sparked back into life when he missed the Capital One Cup tie at Watford with a sickness bug, but Beavon has been back training with Blues this week.

And Waddock is pleased with what he's seen from him on the training ground as he's knuckled down despite the speculation.

He said: "He's done very well in training. Unfortunately for him he was ill last weekend and that's the reason he didn't perform at Watford. He comes back into the group for this weekend and we'll see if he's selected for Saturday's game."