For 90 minutes at Deepdale today Alex Neil will be engrossed in the here and now. A victory over Burton Albion – and a Barnsley win at Derby – will see Preston North End in the playoffs.
All of a sudden, they’ll be within touching distance of the Premier League . But whether or not they get there, Neil won’t dwell on the present.
It will always be about the bigger picture for the Scot. It’s the only way he can operate as a manager.
The Lilywhites have defied all expectations this term in England’s second tier.
Their finances and resources should see them in a relegation battle.
But instead Neil has them battling with giants such as Derby, Villa and Middlesbrough for a play-off berth.
His team have a few old heads, seasoned pros who have been over the course. But they are mainly young, ambitious players willing to graft for everything.
And in the boardroom, Neil deals with one man only.
Peter Ridsdale, former Leeds and Cardiff chairman, is the manager’s chief point of contact.
It sound familiar, doesn’t it? Even Neil admits it reminds him of his managerial gig at Hamilton Accies.
Punching above their weight, talented kids such as James McCarthy and James McArthur bursting through – and Ronnie MacDonald running the show from above.
Neil is revelling in the role as North End gaffer.
His reputation was unfairly dented after being dismissed by Norwich – a side he’d taken into the Premier League. But now he’s back doing what he does best.
A play-off spot would be a
remarkable feat but for Neil it’s about where the club will be in three years’ time.
He told MailSport: “We’ve a succession plan that reminds me so much of Hamilton . Some big clubs only care about this year – the here and now. Which means if it doesn’t work quickly you’re in trouble.
“Here, and at Hamilton, they think two, three years ahead.
“That way, every season you’ll have a competitive team.
“There will never be a year when we’re short at Preston because we’ve thought further down the line.
“It’s never going to cave in because there’s too much quality underneath.
“There’s too much sustainability with young players coming through.
“All that naturally happens is evolution, the older players move on and younger ones take their spots.
“If you’re not focused on two or three years down the line, it’s a problem.
“We’ve seen so many clubs have a successful period then fall off the face of the earth. That’s just down to poor planning.”
He’s reluctant to admit it but Neil must take huge personal satisfaction from the job he has done at Deepdale.
After Norwich’s relegation from the top flight, some would have doubted his credentials.
But taking unfancied Preston into the Championship’s top seven is something no one outside the
Lancashire city would have predicted.
He said: “It would be a massive achievement to get into the play-offs.
“Preston have finished 11th in the past two seasons and our budget is in the bottom three of the league.
“But when I came in it was a stable club. Sometimes when you get a job there’s upheaval and problems to resolve.
“But I had a blank canvas and a chance to build something.
“We have a lot of young hungry players and that’s been key to our success.
“It’s not dissimilar to that Hamilton team I had. I’ve a sprinkling of good pros and a lot of kids
trying to make their name. But how we’ve managed it is just down to hard graft. They work so hard every day.
“In nine games out of 10 we out-run the opposition. And we have some quality in there as well.
“We’re where we are on merit, we deserve to be there.”
Of course, the players will get most of the praise but Neil’s role can’t be underestimated. Ridsdale has given him licence to implement his own ideas and, more importantly, there’s a worth ethic that the Glaswegian gaffer is renowned for.
Neil said: “A few things had to change. I’ve grown the analysis department, altered the structure of the players’ week and increased the intensity of training.
“But when they perform better, get good results and plaudits – everyone buys into it. It’s then easier for me.
“I’ve trimmed it down to 22 (from 28). They’re all in it for the collective, the team. And as a
manager, that’s great.
“The relationship I have with Peter is similar to the one I had at Hamilton with Ronnie.
“It’s really straight forward. There’s no politics, no board to report to. It’s a straight line of
communication. That’s the best way to work for any manager.
“I don’t listen to speculation about other clubs and I don’t tout myself around.
“I’m happy here and we’re building something, not just for now but for the future.”
