Alan Irvine is planning to have a 'third eye' TV screen in his dugout to spot problems while games are going on.

But Irvine insists the monitor is only intended as a coaching aid, not a stick to beat referees with.

"It is nothing to do with challenging decisions," he told the Evening Post.

"There is no point trying to do that with referees.

"I simply want to use the screen as another aid so we don't have to wait until the day after to look at the tape and see something that needs attention.

"It's far better if you can do that while the game is still
continuing."

>>Latest PNE Pavilion Stand video

The new pitchside screen is the latest piece of technology being brought in by Irvine to help North End improve next season.

Irvine has already employed a full-time video analyst in former UCLAN student Aaron Biggs to prepare pre-match presentations and individual 'best practice' DVDs for the players.

But the dugout monitor is designed for instant use during games.

Irvine explained: "Video is a fantastic tool in football. You can see so much more on-screen than you can standing by the pitch.

"The players have bought into the DVD idea and last season they got a great deal of benefit from our use of footage pre-match and post-match.

"But I want to take it further next season and hopefully this new screen will help us do that.

"We had one at Everton and it was very helpful.

"With the new stand being built I asked if some cables could be put in so we could get a feed directly to the dugout.

"It will have a five second delay on it so we can look at things quickly and see exactly what happened at, say, a corner or a free-kick.

"We can identify how a player got free at a set-piece or what happened in a certain situation.

"It will also give us the opportunity to get feedback for use at half-time.

"With the break being 15 minutes, I usually leave the players on their own for the first five minutes while I have a chat with Rob Kelly and Billy Barr about the first half.

"So now we can look over some clips in the coaches' room.

"The idea would be to have Aaron down there with a laptop showing us bits of action so we can sort a few things out.

"Then we can look at things after full-time so that when I face the media I can give a better view of any contentious issues having already seen playbacks on the screen.

"It isn't for challenging referees.

"What's the point? Once the game is over that's that – you aren't going to change their minds.

"I just want it as a coaching aid and hopefully the technology can help make us better."

Other stories:
>> Jones set for Crewe return
>> Irvine out to prove doubters wrong

We're proud of Preston's winners. See our Central Lancashire Junior Football League presentation evening special. Only in Wednesday's Lancashire Evening Post.