After signing a new three-year deal at Deepdale, Alan Browne credited the manager as a main influence in his decision to put pen to paper and extend his stay at the club.
The midfielder has progressed year on year since joining at North End at the age of 18, but his performances were taken to a new level during the 2017/18 campaign, reflected at the end of season awards where the Irishman scooped three of the top awards.
Speaking about his decision to commit his future to the club, the 23-year-old cited the gaffer's ambitions as one of the key reasons, telling iFollow PNE: "The manager was a massive factor, I didn't really speak to the previous manager about signing previous contracts but this gaffer wants to be involved in everything that goes on and I think that's testament to him because he doesn't really have to, it could be left to the people behind the scenes.
"Not only with me, he's sat the boys down and had a talk with them and explained that he wants to stay at this club and he wants to help get this club to where it wants to be so for all of us to be going in the same direction is really pleasing for me and that's something that really got this deal over the line.
"Obviously it's not all pretty when you are negotiating contracts yourself but to get him involved and having him pulling in the same direction and wanting the same things for this club is something that turned me head a bit and made me want to really commit to the club.
On his own progress at the club, Browne continued: "I've probably progressed year on year and I've been rewarded with contracts at the end of most of those seasons so that's been really pleasing for me."
"More so last year than any other I really kicked on and showed my true potential and carried that out.
"To have the year that I did was really pleasing for me but at the same time there are things I could have done better, I think that's the same for any player really, and in the coming season I want to try and develop my game even more, continue to progress and if I can do that then I'm sure help it will help the club get to where we want to be.
"I'm really pleased with the contract, I had two years left anyway so I was pretty stable but to get this deal over the line was great for me and it shows that the club are rewarding players that have done well.
"Not only for me but with the other boys as well and it's good to see. It's good from the club and the future looks bright for us.
"I've always wanted to be here and that is how it remains for the future so to have the club come to me and want me to sign was really pleasing and I couldn't say no. It's what I wanted and for the club to want it as well shows that we are both going in the same direction.
With pre-season well underway for Browne and the rest of the North End squad, attention begins to turn to the 2018/19 campaign and after coming so close to reaching the Play-Offs last season, Alan feels the squad will be more determined than ever to achieve their ambitions.
"Every year we all know where we want to be, but I think this year more than any other it's a need more than a want because of how close we came last season. To have that upset at the end of the season when you do get so close, you get a little taste for it.
"We didn't quite get there but this year we will have the hunger and desire to really push on even further. I think having a year under our belts now with this gaffer can only bid us well in this coming season.
"We know what he wants and what the expectations are. We are not going to get carried away, obviously it's a tough league and we are all aware of that, you can be up there one year and down the next.
"At the same time, having come so close last year it's something that we want to really improve on and if we manage to do that the only next step is the Play-Offs and we want to go even further than that and that's where our sights will be come the start of the season.
"As the year goes on we will have an idea of where we might end up and we will continue to work hard until the end of the season and see where that takes us.
"It's about us collectively and what we can achieve as a team, there's something special happening here and you can see that with the boys committing their future to the club and the players we are signing are all really good players.
"Hopefully they can bring competition for places and break themselves in to the team. If they can manage to do that then I'm sure we can all work together to take us to the next step."