The New Gaffer

Irvine was tipped as favourite for the vacant post as Shaw expressed that Preston would have a manager before this weekend's game. the board have acted quickly as exactly seven days after Simpson's sacking comes the new kid on the block.

It is Irvine's first appointment to the hot seat. The Scot has spent the previous five and a half years as number two to David Moyes. He has good pedigree as a coach building up the academy at Blackburn after his playing career was shortened due to a knee injury in 1992. He then moved to Newcastle with Dalglish and worked with the youth setup on Tyneside before joining Moyes on Merseyside.

Irvine has signed a three and a half year deal. He has worked with Rob Kelly before and is assumed that the same will happen again.