Irvine the favourite for Albion job
Friday 26th June 2009, 11:00AM BST.
Alan Irvine has emerged as favourite for the Albion manager’s job – despite vehement denials from his club Preston.
The Deepdale boss has leapt to the top of the pile and, such is the mounting speculation, some bookies have stopped taking bets on Irvine getting the post.
Irvine is due back from a holiday in Spain this weekend, but it is believed contact has already been made about the vacancy.
The 50-year-old former Everton assistant boss, who signed a three and a half year deal in November 2007, is now the favourite with costly compensation thought to have ruled out Peterborough chief Darren Ferguson.
But heavy denials remain at Preston, where chairman Derek Shaw went on the record to issue a ‘hands off’ warning.
He said: “I want to assure supporters that, as I give this interview, first thing on Friday morning, we have not had any contact from West Bromwich Albion over the services of Alan Irvine and we do not want any.
“ If any calls come in then the decision would be down to the manager himself, if the terms of his contract were met, but this is something we would vehemently oppose.”
Shaw insisted it was business as usual at Preston.
He said: “I have spoken to Alan nearly every day this week and preparations continue for pre-season, as well as continuing to make enquiries about players as normal.
“The last thing in the world Preston need at this time is to be searching for a new manager, it would be a disaster for us.
“Alan has progressed the club over the past 18 months and we want that progression to continue.”
Irvine led Preston to survival in his first season in charge as they finished 15th.
This season they lost to Sheffield United in the play-offs.
Doncaster’s Wolverhampton-born Sean O’Driscoll, former Baggies youth coach Aidy Boothroyd and Alan Curbishley have also been touted as candidates.
But former Albion captain Derek McInnes ended speculation linking him with the job, by pledging his future to St Johnstone.
He said: “It’s flattering to be linked with jobs, but I see my immediate future here with St Johnstone.
“I’m grateful to the chairman Geoff Brown for giving me the opportunity.”
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
I don’t think there’s any doubt that McInnes would take the post if he was offered it, it seems as though he’s already been told he’s not getting it, which would imply the Albion board already know who their man is.
Irvine seems to be held in high regard, but I must admit to being a bit worried about his style of play, apparently very direct last season.
I’m sure that’s a lot to do with the players at his disposal, but can a manager who succeeds by turning an average side into a good side by making them solid, efficient, compact and difficult to break down, succeed with a group of talented, expansive, creative footballers?
Report abuse
Spot on Warren.
Who can fill me in on Irvine then?
What’s their football like?
Is he regarded as a “big name” to attract the sort of players we should be looking at?
Report abuse
2.SuperMaths
Is he regarded as a big name??
I think you have answered that yourself with your first question.
Report abuse
He’s not a massive name no, but he’s got a very good track record and David Moyes was quoted as saying that he could not replace Irvine at Everton when he left to join Preston.
He’s done a very good job at PNE and I for one believe that he would be successful at the Albion.
Was TM a big name when he came to the Shrine?
Was Megson a big name when he came to the Shrine?
No they weren’t and they’ve been our 2 most successful manager’s in the past 20 years that I’ve been going to the Albion for, so I’m not fussed if he doesn’t seem like a big name yet.
Report abuse
I guess I have, TBH.
The thing is I haven’t really had any interest in the Fizzy Pop league for 12 months or so, so I have no idea what’s what down here – some joker even told me the Dingles had enjoyed a modicum of success. ;)
Seriously, I know nothing of the guy except for he’s Scottish and a former Everton Assistant Manager.
I could wiki him – but where’s the fun in that?
Report abuse
Look at Irvines signings at preston.John parkin,Neil Mellor two big battering rams up front.Ex dingle elliot,Chaplow and carter not very good are they.Irvine spent a fair few million for preston standards and failed to get into top 6 in a very poor championship last season.Irvine is a dennis smith type of manager,no thanks!
Report abuse
Warren
Iunderstand your comments but maybe its the solid compact and efficient edge that he can add that maybe you lacked last season. If the blend is right it could make for an interesting season.
Report abuse
I think for us he could well be perfect,good football ideas learning alot of experience in league with preston plus number 2 at Everton.No not a big name but we dont need that he loves the passing game have friends at PNE who are all sick at the news. He also would get us up playing the way we all enjoy at the shrine.Plus i think players and coaching staff would bring a breath of welcome fresh air. Get him JP Albion till i die
Report abuse
6- Enoch
Alan Irvine didn’t sign Darren Carter or Neil Mellor, Paul Simpson signed both of them. Jon Parkin cost a nominal fee, the only money spent was on Chaplow, who has been one of their best players since.
That said, agree with your concerns about playing style.
Other sources seem to suggest it’s a shoot-out between Irvine and Jones.
Whatever you think of Jones, you can’t argue with his track record. My mate’s a big Stockport fan, he can’t speak highly enough of Jones and doesn’t think Megson is comparable to him. If Jones comes and outperforms what Megson achieved, I’d take that, ex-doghead or not!!
Report abuse
7- Suffolk
I agree we need to become more solid and efficient, but would like to see things being tweeked rather than taken apart and reconstructed, as this would involve major turnover of the playing staff, players we’d struggle to replace with the same quality, and a rebuilding process that could take years, as it did with you.
Report abuse
i agree with suffolk wolf, just look att Stoke, they played bully football and it worked. maybe it was what we were missing. with all due respect we had no backbone players.
its agreat shame about Fergie Jnr, i think that would have been a MASSIVE boost for our club getting him in, I dont know anything about Irvine.
Report abuse
6 – Neil Mellor, Richard Chaplow and Darren Carter were all signed by Paul Simpson, not Alanm Irvine.
Also, you say that they finished outside the top 6 last season……..I may be wrong, but I could have sworn that finishing 6th was actually in the top 6?!
Report abuse
I don’t know much about him but if David Moyes rates him, he can’t be too bad. His style of football may be something to do with the players he has avaiable to him and the limited financial clout that Preston have and he seems to have done well there. I also seem to remember some supporters saying that TM should be ‘a little less tippy tappy and a bit more direct’. TM was an unknown so maybe this guy might do a job. I would still be pulled towards Fergie junior or David Jones. I know that some have a problem with his Wolves connections but I think he has everything that we need to promoted this year. He did well at the Custard Bowl, he did a decent job at Southampton and has done a fantastic job at Cardiff with very little resources. Hopefully, whoever JP appoints will be in by the time the players return for pre-season training and will get the full backing from supporters, players & JP!!
Report abuse
preston did finish in top 6,they lost to sheff utd in play offs,and they hammered the dingles at the moll,aye boing boing that will do for me
Report abuse
1.Wazza. YES!!
Nedball. Given your age away?? 22?
Who said Irvine is a Dennis Smith alike?
Sudden dreaded feeling!
Just who was it who appointed Dennis Smith.
Please get Derek or Darren.
Oh well.
JP will tell us soon enough!
Report abuse
5) Having a pop at the Championship. Unfortunately mate you may be stuck there for a bit.One thing for sure is that Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Cardiff, Ipswich, Reading, Sheff Utd, Preston, Swansea will have a say. Then there are sides like Leicester and Peterborough that will be no pushovers.
A s for your replacement manager, if you get the likes of Irvine or Jones, you will have to shell out at least £1m compensation!
Report abuse
Thanks for that Rob, but we just accumulated £2m in compensation, so I think we could afford the £1m.
My maths tells me that for the money you’re forking out for goal machine Kevin Doyle (worse Premiership goals ratio than ‘not enough goals’ Marc-Antoine Fortune), we could get 6.5 Dave Jones’, 20,000 mobility buggies for your new goalkeeper, or 650,000 pies and pints to console your fans when they all realise how out of your depth you’ll be next season.
Report abuse
15 – Jeff, I’m 26 thanks for asking, and I was 7 years old when I attended my 1st match (it was actually for my 7th birthday), so it will be 20 years in August since my 1st match attended.
Does that have any effect on the relevance of my posts?
Report abuse
Nedball.
Not a bit but it’s nice to know a little about people who post on here.
Hope it doesn’t sound too patronising but your comments – excepting your relationship with sir Tez, sound well considered and mature.
Sadly I have been around a bit longer but had the pleasure of seeing some great players from all teams over the years.
Heres to us taking a giant step forward with our new manager – whoever.All the best
Report abuse
i think he wud do a good job, wont play same way as Tm but i wud rather win games and be more solid at bk unlike we wernt last year,
him or Ferguson for me
Report abuse
I fear the worst, surely Fergie is the man, me thinks Peace is pulling the purse strings too tight here. Is by trying to limit the compo deal going to consign us to fizzy pop mediocrity? We need to think big!! look at what has happened at Charlton, Southampton, Norwich etc etc
Report abuse
19 – Jeff, not a problem my good man.
Glad to be of help on this occasion, and I’m very glad that you think that I often make sense….I do try!
Report abuse
19 Jeff.
Good idea. My names Bully and I’m an Albion fan. just like the AA.
17 Warren.
You forgot to mention young and hungry Tommy Smith and Andrew Surman. More pies please, or should that be rusks.
Report abuse
21 Fletch.
I was about to argue with you, when I realised you had beaten me to it.
Report abuse
“..not a problem my good man”.
Jeff and Ned, you two are starting to sound like Bluebottle and Eccles out of The Goon Show. Or could Ned be ‘Neddy Seagoon’ in fact? If you geezers have never heard, (seen), Bluebottle ask Eccles, “Waht Time Is It Eccles” then you haven’t lived!
Report abuse
Its the usual story…and it drives me nuts !….our players and managers can leave the club with apparent ease….and no-one seems to be jumping to come to the baggies…cant understand it and never will….this is a superb club with a terrific history and managers should be begging for the chance to be our manager…..the thing that concerns me is that we are a good footballing team that has made great improvement and i rfear that if the RIGHT man is not appointed real soon we will lose momentum and key players….go back to go ..do not collect 200 pounds.
Report abuse
#16.
A Brummie & a Dingle, you do have problems.
Report abuse
I’m not a great admirer of Dave Jones although he seems to of been well respected where ever he’s been but I think the Wolves connection doesn’t hold too much water…what about TM’s mate Mr Venus??
Report abuse
I have to admit I am concerned that Alan Irvine seems to be the favourite now. If what we have read is correct about his style of play, this would take us back to the bad old days of Bobby Gould.
The only thing for sure is that no one can be certain who it is until the appointment is actually made, names will be banded about but it’s all speculation until the appointment is made.
Report abuse
His style of play is direct, long ball and boaring is it not? If thats the case than I dont want him. We cant go from the way we played the last 3 years to that!
Please make the right decision JP. All these 16,000 season ticket holders renewed/invested expecting 2 see a certain style, and its not the mowbray way…. its the Albion way!
Its definatley not the Irvine way. Darren Fergusson would be my 1st choice amongst the list that has been mentioned.
I still say Guss Poyet (previously of Spurs)would be a good bet, if he’s available
Report abuse
Hope JP sorts it out,Wolves are much better than us, getting on with the job.
Report abuse
Dave jones would have got us up next season but peace agains shows his lack of judgment over a new manager , any other club would have had him installed now
Report abuse
I think we should go for Gary Johnson from Bristol City,if we can’t have Fergie Jnr.
Report abuse
9 Warren, 12 Ned.
As well as you’ve pointed out, the fact that Alan Irvine didn’t sign any of these, Enoch claims they cost a fair few millions. The four he mentions cost less than Chris Brunt. Not wanting to come the Billy Big Boots but because of JP’s financial acumen, we are able to shop in a different market to PNE. Alan Irvine has done well using the players at his disposal and if you have Parkin and Mellor up front, you’re not going to try beating the opposition with pace and subtlety.
Report abuse
25 Cyril.
‘He’s fallen in the water.’
Report abuse
6 enock,id have sooner had mellor and parkin up front than moore n simpson,and carter in midfield than the nancys we had,aye boing boing jodie
Report abuse
whos the cheapest
Report abuse
RBH 35. That’s an early one mate, 1955 (ish) I think. I have a feeling the ‘What Time Is It Eccles’ can be seen on You Tube. I have it on tape. We all laugh at different humour but that one leaves me gasping. Have you noticed that every club mentioned start out with, ‘We shall expect compensation, but we have no objections to…etc’. Then later it becomes ‘Our manager is staying here and we don’t want to lose him’. Read between the lines. Offer enough, you can have him, but don’t just enquire, he may find out we’re willing to sell’. Then he won’t want to stay. It’s a silly game. It’s called Tact and Diplomacy. Lies really, but Robbo wished he’d learned it I’ll bet.
Report abuse