Preston North End Appoint Alex Neil as New Manager on 12-Month Contract
It has been announced on Tuesday afternoon via Preston North End's official websitethat the club have confirmed the appointment of Alex Neil as their new manager on a rolling 12-month contract.
The former Norwich City boss is set to be formally unveiled on Wednesday afternoon at the club's press conference at Deepdale and will become officially active in his new role on Thursday.
His first task will be to take a watching brief at a friendly against Bamber Bridge on Friday and then to conduct training once his side go to their training camp in Ireland.
It has also been confirmed that the club will retain all current first team staff, meaning first team coach Steve Thompson, goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, fitness coach Tom Little and Physio Matt Jackson will continue in their respective roles at the club under the new management.
On becoming Preston's new manager, 36-year-old Neil remarked:
“I’ve looked at this opportunity and seen that the club has made progress for four years running and I am looking forward to trying to continue that progress.
“It is a really good challenge for me. I have been involved in a lot of big games in a short space of time and hopefully we can be involved in a lot more big games here at Preston North End.”
NORWICH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Alex Neil, Manager of Norwich City looks on prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Norwich City and Southampton at Carrow Road on January 7, 2017 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Stephen Pond/GettyImages
The Lilywhites have been a stable presence in the Championship for the last few seasons and Neil believes that the current side has enough quality to compete at the top of the league and push for promotion:
“The ultimate aim for any club in the Championship is to try and get promoted at some stage.
"The club has been stable in the Championship for the last two years and you never know what is going to happen in the next year or two, but we want to try and build a side and a squad that is capable of competing at the top end of the Championship and if we can get a bit of momentum, you never know where you can end up.”
