PNE boss on tour!

Preston North End boss Simon Grayson thinks his visits to watch the Republic of Ireland and Wales prepare for Euro 2016 can be of benefit at club level.
Simon Grayson spent time with the Wales and Ireland squadsSimon Grayson spent time with the Wales and Ireland squads
Simon Grayson spent time with the Wales and Ireland squads

Grayson spent time with the Welsh squad in the Algarve last week.

In the last few days, he and PNE No.2 Glynn Snodin have been watching the Republic of Ireland play and train in Cork.

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He thinks managers and coaches can learn plenty from other set-ups.

Grayson also got chance to meet up with Alan Browne across the water, the Lilywhites midfielder back home recovering from hernia surgery.

“It was a worthwhile few days,” Grayson told the Evening Post.

“Myself and Snods went out to Cork to watch the Republic of Ireland and see how they are preparing for a major international tournament.

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“We watched a few sessions and saw the game they played against Belarus.

“It was good to catch-up with Martin O’Neill, who was manager at Leicester, and also his assistant Steve Walford.

“There are a few lads in the squad who I know and have worked with, so there was the opportunity to see them in the action too.

“As a manager, I’m always looking to learn and do things better, and watching other teams train can help that.

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“I saw Alan Browne at the game – he is from that part of the world and is back home at the moment.

“He is doing a bit of running and rehab work after having his operation, so that was good to hear. The type of surgery which Browney and Paul Gallagher have had, is one which players recover quite quickly from, so they will be fine for pre-season training at the end of June.

“Last week, I had a few days on holiday in Portugal and took the chance to go up the road to see Wales train.

“They were not far from where I was staying and I’m not much of a sunbather, so it was good to go and watch.”

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Republic of Ireland Under-21s international Browne was relieved to get his operation over and done with as he looks forward to what he hopes can be a big season in 2016/17.

Said Browne: “I only found out about the problem a week or two before the end of the season.

“I didn’t really have too much trouble with it, I just went to the doctor who assessed me and located the problem. It was good to get it sorted as soon as possible.

“My problem was slightly different to Paul Gallagher’s – his was a ‘sports hernia’ and mine was a proper one, so they say.

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“Gally obviously carried his injury longer than I did and will have aggravated it a bit more with the number of games.

“I’ve got a programme to stick to over the summer and if I follow it, everything will be fine ahead of pre-season training.”

l Admission to the friendly against Stoke on July 23 is £10 for adults and £5 concessions.