Everton confirm Alan Irvine to leave Goodison for Preston

Nov 20 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON have confirmed that Alan Irvine is to leave the club and take over as the new manager at Preston.  

The Blues' assistant manager has agreed personal terms with the Championship side and the two clubs have agreed an undisclosed compensation fee.  

Irvine leaves Goodison after five and a half years as assistant to manager David Moyes. He has signed a three-and-a-half year deal at Deepdale, where he was being unveiled as manager this afternoon.  

It is the Scot's first role as manager after a successful spell on the backroom staff at Newcastle, Blackburn and Everton.   Everton Chief Executive Keith Wyness praised his contribution to the Goodison revival.  

“On behalf of everyone at Everton, I would like to thank Alan for his service and commitment over the past five and a half years," he said.  "We all wish him the very best in his first managerial role.”  

Preston chairman Derek Shaw said: "We are very pleased that Alan will be joining us, he’s ready to have a crack at management. He’s got a reputation of being a top notch coach, his work ethic is amazing, he’s worked with David Moyes and I know the amount of games they take in, you see them all over the country.  

 “David Moyes and Alan Irvine have set high standards at Everton and I’m pretty sure that Alan will continue to maintain those high standards at Deepdale.”