A bit late with this one although there is something on the website. Snippets are coming out since the decision on Tuesday morning that Alan Irvine has turned down the job at WBA.
He wanted to listen to what they had to say but wanted to stay at Preston as he appreciated the opportunity he’d been given on his appointment and he felt there is a job to finish.
He said he had a 15 year apprenticeship before North End gave him the job. I can appreciate from that and his other comments what kind of person he might be. He is obviously not one for rocking the boat and looking round for the next best chance. He’s a stable type who lives not too far away, he’s 50. Why should he go to WBA when the chance of the sack in 12 months is high. WBA won’t appreciate that he keeps them in the Championship whereas at Preston he has that tick in the box and now he’s got another tick by staying. At Preston he’s only likely to get the sack if they look like going down or have too long in the doldrums.
Vice versa if he does another nearly promoted job next year he’ll be seen as a real hot ticket as it won’t be a flash in the pan and a premier league club might look at him. Whereas would he take WBA go up next year, not necessarily, and if not it’s a blot. Add to that there’s Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Sheff U, Reading, Preston and the surprise teams waiting to bite. Ipswich, Notts F anybody?
Also Prestons a decent place, nice ground and facilities, not too bustling, nice surrounding areas, friendly. If you were to have a managerial development placing on your CV and wanted to hit the top places Preston would look like a great posting.