In-demand Preston boss rules out leaving table-toppers for the rock-bottom Potters

Gallagher

PRESTON boss Alex Neil watched his side grab top spot in the Championship and then insisted he has no interest in taking over at Stoke.

And he would be mad to leave the confident-looking league leaders for the rockbottom Potters, who sacked Nathan Jones last week. “I can tell you I love working with this group of players,” he said. “They are a special bunch and we want to try to keep doing what we are doing.” Preston’s board have refused to let Stoke talk to their manager – a decision which Neil has no problem with.

He added: “I can’t control rumours and speculation but I can put a statement out to put it to bed. There is nothing to talk about. I am Preston North End manager.

“I love being here, I love working with my team and we crack on.

“I’ve been a manager for seven, eight years and when you’re hot, you’re hot. When you’re not, you’re not.

“In a couple of weeks people will be saying how hopeless I am.”

At the moment he and his team are hot, and yesterday they beat Charlton 1-0 in a bad-tempered game, the goal coming from the spot after Jason Pearce fouled Jayden Stockley.

Preston skipper Paul Gallagher, subbed against Blackburn last week after only 29 minutes, came on as a sub himself after 31 minutes and lashed home the 58th-minute penalty.

“Me and my players have complete trust in each other,” Neil said. “The fact I took him off only means I got the team selection wrong. Today he comes on and gets the winner for us. That’s why we are a team, not a group of individuals.”

Addicks boss Lee Bowyer saw his team match Preston but fail to give keeper Declan Rudd enough to do.

And he refused to criticise Preston players for hitting the deck and staying down at the least suggestion of contact. “That’s managing the game, isn’t it?” he said.

“They’re an experienced side who have been in that situation a lot. So yes, it can be frustrating but maybe we’ve got to learn to start doing that ourselves.

“The players are too honest but that comes with experience.

“It was a penalty. One of our most experienced players has made the wrong decision.”

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