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Hard task ahead for Irvine at PNE
Deepdale boss Alan Irvine admits it is going to be difficult for Preston North End to equal last season's play-off charge.
With little money in the coffers, Irvine could be forced to cut his cloth further in the coming weeks as he bids to strengthen his squad for a Championship challenge he expects to be even harder in 2009-10.
Irvine told the Evening Post: "It is going to be an extremely difficult task to repeat what Preston did last season.
"It is going to be hard to improve on that.
"We have to appreciate where we are I think.
"This season, the competition could be even fiercer.
"And with Newcastle and Middlesbrough, two giants clubs in there, it is going to be massively difficult to compete against clubs of those resources.
"There are others in the division who have a lot more money than they did last year because they've had fresh investment.
"That almost certainly means that there will be more teams competing for the top six this year.
"There's no doubt in my mind that we've made significant progress in the last 18 months, though, and I hope we will continue to make
progress.
"There is good potential here and that was definitely a big factor in my decision to remain, but it is going to get harder."
While chairman Derek Shaw has pledged to do everything in his power to help Irvine play the transfer market, the PNE boss accepts he might not be able to strengthen his squad significantly.
Full story in Friday's Lancashire Evening Post
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South east
