I feared bad start would be beginning of end for me, says Preston boss Alan Irvine

Nov 16 2008 By Mark Guidi

ALAN IRVINE walked out on a job for life with Newcastle to become Davie Moyes' No.2 at Everton.

A year ago he gave up one of the safest seats in the Premiership to take over as gaffer of Preston North End.

There was no guaranteed comfort zone at Deepdale and after seven weeks Irvine feared the bullet when he watched the club slide to the bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship.

At that stage he questioned the wisdom of leaving Goodison but knew he'd never make a success of things if he felt sorry for himself.

Alan summoned his squad to an emergency meeting on January 12 and told them bluntly they needed 27 points from their remaining 16 games to avoid the drop. They ended up with 30 - only Hull City had a better record in the division from those games.

It was title winning form and raised expectation for this season that Preston would earn automatic promotion to the Premiership for the first time.

Irvine, 50, feels that's unrealistic and the Scot said: "We started well but have had a few injuries recently which hampered results.

"There's an expectation here to do well and some people even think we're good enough to go up. It's a massive step to do that.

"But I'd still like to think I'd end up in the Premiership with Preston though it might not be next season.

"Still, just talking about such a thing is a good bit away from how I felt after a few weeks in the job.

"I'd taken the team down to the bottom of the league. It's safe to say I didn't make an immediate impact.

"I thought this was going to be the worst decision I'd ever made.

It was a worrying time and there was a danger my time as manager would be short-lived.

"Yet I had left a good job at Everton and I know David was happy with me.

"But I wanted to test myself as a manager although I never chased it. I never applied for this job, I got a call to ask if I wanted it.

"I'd have questioned myself and my hunger for the game if I had stayed at Everton."

From the age of 24 when he played at Tannadice, Irvine always had the desire to become a coach.

While some team-mates at Dundee United would be out clubbing Alan was happy to go for a meal.

There he would talk tactics and training sessions with Dave Narey, Paul Hegarty, Paul Sturrock, Billy Kirkwood, Maurice Malpas and Billy Thomson.

Under legendary Arabs boss Jim McLean, Alan started recording every training session - an obsession he still continues to this day.

Irvine then moved on to Blackburn and had the benefit of sharing a table in the canteen with Kenny Dalglish and Ray Harford.

The 50-year-old smiled: "Kenny was a fantastic manager and Ray was a superb coach. Listening to them was the best of both worlds.

"Kenny then took me on to Newcastle as first team coach and when his time came to an end I was ready to chuck it out of loyalty.

"Kenny told me to sit tight and not do anything daft. I was glad I listened because financially I simply couldn't afford to quit.

"Kenny has been a massive influence.

"I ended up in charge of the Newcastle Academy and Sir Bobby Robson had offered me a one-year contract when David asked me to join him at Everton."

Irvine has an excellent reputation down south and admits he is a bit of an unknown in his homeland.

He said: "I'm more recognised in England. That's not a problem - I have never sought publicity and don't have an ego.

"Perhaps one day I will work in Scotland and I wouldn't be adverse to that happening.

"But Preston is what it's about for me at the moment. I'm happy about that."

North End travel to Blackpool today for the derby clash.

If pre-season predictions are to come true this is the kind of game they'll need to win.