Chairman Derek Shaw has spoken to update the official website on the search for the new manager and has expanded on the reasons for Alan Irvine's departure.
"We've come to the decision over the run of ten or so games, where we have gone from an extremely promising start to a team that is a little bit above the relegation places," Shaw told PNE.Com. "We have gained seven points in two and half months and we have a loyal band of supporters who go to all the away games and I am sure that many of those supporters will agree that we had the rub of the green at Sheffield Wednesday, which was our last away victory and the last time that any of our strikers scored.
"I have regular dialogue, almost daily, with our major shareholder and we have been very disappointed with our results. It is January this week, there may be ins and outs, there is still an element of uncertainty of what will happen with Sean St. Ledger. There may be some wheeling and dealing to be done in January. We were very keen to look at the Barnsley and the Sheffield United games and have been looking over the last few weeks for improvement. We were narrowly beaten at Sheffield United, but on analysing the game, we never really looked like winning it."
The process is already well under way to find Irvine's replacement and the PNE chief admitted that they will explore all avenues: "It is like a phased process. There are probably five stages to this; firstly there's the dismissal of the manager, then there's the interim appointment and I had an hour with Robert Kelly on Tuesday afternoon and he is happy to take that up, so I thank him for that - he'll be in charge of training and team selection until any further notice.
"Yesterday afternoon, evening and today has been none stop on the phone, with emails, names and people who are interested in the post being put to us and that is part of stage three which is the search. You then have interviews and finally the final stage is an appointment.
"There are some good candidates out there. You only need to look at the TV to see some of the frontrunners for our post. I am sure it will be someone who has management experience. It will probably be someone who has managed in the Championship I would expect. We are not ruling anybody out and we are not ruling anybody in. Right now is now much more than 24 hours since it all broke and I can assure people that there is a lot of interest in this job."
One thing the chairman did confirm was that the new manager would be given the same support as all previous incumbents in the job: "I despair that we are labelled with a lack of investment or lack of ambition. Every interview I give leads on to money. We do everything in our power to support our managers. We have had funds off our major shareholder that are documented in our accounts to support our managers and to keep this club afloat.
"We have had far more investment than some clubs who are above us in the league and without knowing the true figures, one east Lancashire club who was promoted last year. Let's try and get away from that myth. We have a decent squad of players and they need to get their heads down, work for the shirt and get some results.
"I think the decision had to be made now because January is an important month. We may have enquiries for players, I don't know that. That's another myth that people seem to think is top secret; when someone wants one of your players it often happens very quickly, but if we have a new manager in place then no doubt he will want to bring people in. I don't pick the squad; that is left to the management team. We will hopefully have most of January, if that arises, to the new management."
Some sections of supporters have labelled the decision to change the manager hasty and Derek admits that this is something that will only be answered by time.
"We haven't got a crystal ball in running a football club. You only have to listen to and read debates on forums and radio stations where many supporters think it is right and many supporters think it is wrong and some don't come off the fence. We have to make decisions and you don't get a second chance. If we continue not picking up points and end up getting relegated, thousands of fans would end up saying 'they should have changed their manager earlier'.
"We have made a decision and we have to stick by that decision and I only hope that in the best interests of Preston North End, that that decision is correct.
"The situation could have been that Alan had a horrendous first part of the campaign and a terrific second half, but unfortunately it went the other way. The first ten games were good, the next run wasn't so good. We may have all been buzzing now that the team has got going and that we're picking up points, but unfortunately it has not happened like that. Unfortunately in football, you have to do what you think is right at the time."
And with an important FA Cup clash coming quickly on the horizon the chairman says that unity is important as the Club moves on and starts a new chapter: "Everybody has to pull together in difficult times. I keep hearing what a wonderful season Blackpool are having and yet they are only four points ahead of us. That can turn around in a week. There is half a season yet, there are a lot of points to play for and we have to make sure we get ourselves to 50 points, that's our first objective, so that we are still in the Championship next year."
