After being promoted to the Championship in 2000 and reaching the play-offs 4 times: 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009 Preston lost at home today while teams above won, and so PNE were relegated.
During the time in the Championship North End had some good strikers, Healy, Macken, Nugent, Cresswell and for a short time Fuller. Quite a few good defenders and half backs as well, Alexander, Etuhu and McKenna. Lonergan has been around a long time but only broke through more recently.
David Moyes and Billy Jones were the most successful managers while the unfortunate Phil Brown inherited a squad that was well down and has the worst record ever of any Preston manager. For that reason he must stay to improve it. He’s got a tough job as League 1 is no push-over although the current squad must surely be good enough for the top half. That is assuming they all stay or can be afforded and several will leave. Trevor Hemmings has kept the club afloat and watching him on TV at the Grand National he came over as someone who likes to be in charge.
A little prayer. We await the guidance and hopefully the largesse of Trever Hemmings. We also hope for Phil Brown to stay and find some new talent un-noticed by other clubs.
Now bring on 2011/12 and what unfolds before next August. Guild year 2012 PNE back in the Championship.