FRANKIE’S FORGING OWN PATH

Former No 2 thriving at Preston

AT the end of a week dominated by analysis of Steven Gerrard’s career move to Aston Villa, it’s amusing to reflect on Frankie McAvoy’s unconventional route into management. While Gerrard is, by some accounts, ruthlessly plotting a course towards succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, McAvoy still struggles to grasp quite how he ended up going toe-to-toe with the Liverpool boss in the Carabao Cup last month.

For years, the Glaswegian was viewed as the archetypal loyal assistant, the man at Alex Neil’s shoulder from the moment he took over at Hamilton Academical in 2013.

Together they headed south for a new challenge at Norwich City and again moved as a package when Neil took over at Preston North End in 2017.

In March, the club chose to sack Neil with the team hovering just above the Championship’s relegation places… and that’s where the partnership ended.

McAvoy initially agreed to stay on until the end of the season but a fine run of results — he took 17 points from a possible 24 — saw him offered the job full-time at the end of the campaign.

It was one of the last decisions the club’s late owner Trevor Hemmings would rubber-stamp.

He said: ‘To be honest, I did not plan on this. I’d done my Pro Licence and thought I was a good No 2 in that supporting role.

‘I never had time to think about it because it happened so quick.

‘But if you turn the clock back to the day Mr Hemmings, God rest him, offered me the job I wasn’t expecting it.

‘They brought me in and gave me an interview, grilled me left, right and centre. They then offered me the job and I would have been a fool to turn it down.’

Inevitably, the relationship with Neil has been altered by circumstance. After sitting down to speak to the club’s chairman Craig Hemmings and director Peter Ridsdale (he of Leeds United fame) McAvoy sought counsel from his former colleague.

He continued: ‘I had a rough chat with Alex. At the end of the day, he is a consummate professional.

‘He said: “Look, it’s entirely up to yourself. You are the guy who has been offered it, you decide what you are going to do”.

‘I just thought it was one I couldn’t turn down.’

Neil was at Deepdale to offer TV analysis of Preston’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. Although their personal relationship has cooled, there is no obvious animosity at play.

‘He was very complimentary,’ says McAvoy. ‘He is tactically excellent, one of the best in the game — I don’t think there’s any question about that.

‘There’s no ill will and I wish him nothing but the best to try and get back in quickly. You are better in it than out it!’

As McAvoy forges his own path, Neil has featured prominently in the betting to succeed Gerrard at Rangers.

When the 40-year-old was relieved of his duties at Deepdale, there was something old-fashioned about the decision to turn to McAvoy. In an age where a thirst for fads reigns supreme, the decision to stick with something trusted and familiar was a proper throwback.

Indeed it continued an age-old North End tradition.

‘It happened here with Billy Davies, David Moyes was a No 2 also,’ he muses. ‘Did I think it would happen for me? No I didn’t. But when opportunities come then you don’t want to be left with that voice in the back of your mind asking: “Why did I not try that?”

‘That was the biggest driver. And speaking to people I know within the game, they told me I had to take the chance, it might never come again.’

At 54, McAvoy is late to the management game but has continued to get a tune out of the Preston team this term.

And when he needs advice he can turn to another of Preston’s former Scots managers, through the League Manager’s Association’s mentor scheme.

‘Down here, you have the LMA and there are people you can rely on,’ explains McAvoy. ‘Alan Irvine is a guy who I have a great relationship with and I speak to him quite regularly.

‘It can be a lonely place as a head coach but there are always people you can talk to. And you need that release valve at times.

‘But this job is 24/7, anybody who has been in it will tell you that. I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t done this.

‘Alex is still unemployed but hopefully he will get back in soon because he is a top manager. I’m pretty confident he will be back in the game soon.’

The game against Liverpool arrived at the end of a sticky run but — buoyed by a performance in which his team ought to have led the Premier League title contenders before late goals from Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi — McAvoy’s men went out and won their next two games against Luton Town and Bournemouth.

So what was it like to be standing next to Klopp (pictured)? Turns out the pair had previous. ‘When I was with Alex at Norwich, we played Liverpool in a memorable 5-4 league game,’ he added.

‘We were 3-1 up and they came back. Wow. And a wee bit of a spat on the touchline at the end of the game.

‘That can happen, emotions run high, but thankfully nothing like that happened this time.

‘We had a bit of a chat before and after the game, but only briefly.

‘He is one of the best, isn’t he? His record is unbelievable.

‘I look at the big clubs who do it consistently season in, season out. Credit to those guys in the managers’ seats because it is not easy at all.

‘Everybody is trying to shoot at you, trying to beat you and all you can do is your best. That’s what I’ve done anywhere I have been.

‘Wherever it takes me, it will take me. I put my faith and trust in God that whatever happens, happens.’

So far the plan has carried him pretty far. Just call him the accidental manager.