Preston North End writer George Hodgson gives his take on the Lilywhites' search for a new manager
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to the very first edition of Lillie White's Latest. I can nearly say
00:07that, George. My name is Mark McMahon and joining me today to discuss the latest goings-on
00:12at Deepdale is the one and only George Hudson. George, it's fair to say that press Norvanda
00:18kept you very busy over the past week.
00:21Yeah, nice easy introduction to the new season, of course. Crazy, really. I think it was always
00:28going to be an important start to the year for Ryan Lowe with how last season finished.
00:33The frustration was evident amongst the fan base and I kind of had in my mind that six
00:38to eight games, really, and you'd then see where it was. But obviously to lose your manager
00:44one game in is absolutely astounding. So, yeah, I think Ben Whiteman described it as
00:49a strange week, a very weird week and I'd pretty much agree with that in a busy week
00:53as well.
00:55I will ask you about the Ryan Lowe situation, but before we do that there, what's your latest
01:01understanding of Preston's search for a successor for him?
01:05Yeah, seems pretty imminent now. I think it's looking like it's going to be Paul Eckingbottom
01:10who's an obviously experienced name at the level and been out of work since December.
01:16I think obviously with the Mike Marsh news after Saturday's game that he'd be stepping
01:20away from interim charge, it's kind of accelerated the need to get somebody in. Whether that's
01:27been ideal for Preston, time will tell, but I think Eckingbottom was always one high up
01:32on the list. And obviously there's a game against Luton on Saturday, which is a massive
01:38match and you can't have nobody in charge for that game. So, I think maybe it's been
01:43pushed through a little bit, but I think they're always hoping to have somebody in this week
01:47and yeah, it seems pretty close now.
01:51What sort of response will Paul Eckingbottom get from the big deal fans?
01:56You know, footy fans, Mark, you'll never please everyone, but I think the vast majority will
02:01see it as a safe pair of hands coming in. I know there was a lot of clamour for the
02:06next bright thing, the next exciting head coach coming through the ranks, but I think
02:12you've got to look at the timing. The season's started, there's four months until the next
02:16transfer window. I'm not sure Preston could afford to do that. So, I fully understand
02:20why they've gone for someone like Eckingbottom, if it is going to be him, because they need
02:26results now. There's no point looking ahead to January in the future and you're 24th.
02:31So, obviously it's been a tough start and I think you'll get a bit of an identity and
02:38organisation back around the team. I think you'll understand what North End fans want
02:43to see in their team. You know, he's managed teams up north and I think he might resonate
02:48with them, but obviously he'll need to start well.
02:52Are you surprised how quickly events are happening, if Eckingbottom is going to be the new man?
02:59Are you surprised just how quickly Preston have gotten on top of the situation?
03:04Yes and no, because I think a few of the updates from the club and Peter Ridgedale suggested
03:09that it might take two or three weeks. They wanted the right person, not the cheapest,
03:14but then obviously with the Mars decision on Saturday, I think they just need to get
03:18somebody in. So, it is a bit extreme. I think they said they were looking through 65 plus
03:23names last Wednesday, which to be honest, that seemed too many to me anyway. I don't
03:29know why you need a list of 65 names, but they were doing that and now obviously it's
03:32Monday to be on the verge of appointing someone. From the outside, it looks like that's moved
03:38pretty quickly. So, yes and no.
03:41How important is it that Peter Ridgedale gets this particular appointment right though?
03:46Yes, massive. I think you could feel it after Saturday, where Preston fans were looking
03:51around thinking, what on earth is going on here? I think the pressure and the criticism
03:57was coming. So, I think Peter is obviously not daft. He's a pretty wily operator. He'll
04:02recognise the situation and the need to really get this back on track. It's not a
04:08an ideal situation to start a season for sure. Two defeats, two games and two managers have
04:14walked away. So, yes, I think Ridgedale will know how big this is now. Obviously, he's
04:19been at the club a long time as well.
04:22Will the new manager be given funds to stamp his own authority on the squad? Burnham English
04:27still got the transfer window at play and next to have got to the Friday week to get
04:32transfers. Will he be able to add any of his own players to the squad?
04:39I don't think they've ever ruled out doing further business. Obviously, they've signed
04:43four players and Ridgedale said four or five would be the target for this summer. So, I
04:48think North End fans would love to see a centre-back signed and whether they can do that, we'll
04:53have to see. But there is still time on side, isn't there? I think obviously Heckingbottom
04:57will have contacts, he'll know players up and down England. So, I wouldn't be surprised
05:03if they did manage to squeeze another one in. I think there is money left to spend.
05:06I don't think they've blown the budget, so to speak. But two loans in, two overseas signings
05:12I think are about a combined two and a half million. So, there might be a little bit left
05:17in the coffers, but I think that would be a big boost getting a manager in and then
05:22one more signing would be very welcomed.
05:25In your opinion, what sort of squad will a new manager be inheriting?
05:32Not to be negative, but I think it's quite an imbalanced one really. North End have recruited
05:36for wing-backs for the last two and a half years. So, there's not many full-backs in
05:42the squad. There's obviously Kesselhagen's coming from Villa, hopefully he can shine
05:46as the season goes on. But only a real one-winger in the squad as well. So, I don't think it's
05:52ideal, which I think makes it necessary for Preston to go for a pragmatic manager, which
05:57Heckingbottom seems to be like. I think I've read a few comments from Sheffield United
06:02fans who say he makes best use of what he's got and I think that'll probably have really
06:08appealed to North End. So, there's good characters in there. There's a together group and there
06:12is quality as well. But, yes, I wouldn't say it's the most balanced Preston squad I've ever seen.
06:18Okay. I know you mentioned Ryan Lowe at the very start, but what is your general
06:23thoughts on that situation, his departure after just one game of the new season?
06:28Yeah, it's not a good look, is it? Obviously, as I mentioned, it was always going to be
06:33a big start to the season for him and it wouldn't have taken much for pressure to really pile on.
06:39But one game is pretty remarkable. I'm not sure what you learn after one game that you
06:42didn't know back in May after five straight defeats. So, yeah, that's not been ideal. It's
06:48a bit of a sour end, really. And the last 18 months, certainly the last six months,
06:53were tough for Ryan Lowe. He had a bit of a run January to March time. But, yeah,
06:59you just got the sense he'd lost the fans, really. And it was probably coming to a natural head. I
07:04think they'd maybe hit the ceiling under him in terms of being kind of 10th to 12th. No real
07:10evidence they could genuinely push higher than that. So, yeah, never nice for it to end in the
07:15way it did, but it certainly could have got worse if he stuck around for a bit longer.
07:20What's your take on Saturday's events, especially when Mike Marsh
07:24revealed that, one, he didn't want the job and, two, that he would be leaving?
07:30Yeah, it's quite a U-turn from Tuesday when we got told he was quite keen to take the job if he
07:36got offered it and wanted to be a number one and all this. And I guess, as a caretaker boss, when
07:41you lose 3-0, you probably know you're done, don't you? So, not the biggest surprise, but it doesn't
07:45leave Preston in a great state, that's for sure. They've probably had to rush this decision through.
07:51But for me, I just don't enjoy going to Swansea, Mark, to be honest. It's the second time I've
07:57been there and no managers turned up afterwards for, obviously, Ryan Lowe getting a scrap with
08:02Joe Allen a few years ago. And we just seem to lose there every season. So, yeah, certainly not
08:08my favourite place in the country to go and visit. But, yeah, it is what it is. Hopefully,
08:15still 44 league games, so hopefully North End can pick up because it's not been the ideal start.
08:21Yeah, and if the manager does come in, I don't think Tass is playing against Luton on Saturday, then?
08:27Oh, yeah, it will be difficult, that. I think they've obviously lost and drawn,
08:32but I don't think they've lost many players that came down from the Premier League. And
08:36Edwards is a good manager and they'll be really keen to get a first win. So,
08:40certainly could be an easier first match. But I think the deep Dale Faithfull can hopefully
08:48really get behind the team. Heckingbottom, if it is to be him, will come in and say all the right
08:53things and it will really build up to that kick-off on Saturday. And Preston's players
08:58should be absolutely desperate to make a good first impression. So,
09:01I think it could be set up quite nicely, really.
09:04Good stuff, George. George, I know you've got loads on. This is an ever-evolving situation,
09:10so I'll let you crack on and get back to work. Thanks for your time and thank you
09:14all for watching. We'll be back hopefully soon. Goodbye.