Jason Euell reflects on taking interim charge of Preston North End
An exciting moment for the coach.
Jason Euell has reflected on the week that has passed since he became Preston North End’s interim manager.
The 49-year-old former top-flight forward took temporary charge last Sunday following the departure of Paul Heckingbottom and his assistant Stuart McCall.
Euell, who arrived at the club as first-team coach last summer, has dreams of being a number one on a permanent basis at some point down the line.
Reflecting on his personal pride in the experience of managing PNE after a 2-2 draw at QPR, he said: “I enjoyed it. It's something that I'm familiar with, yes, at different levels and at different stakes, but I've done enough games as an assistant, first and coach, to get to know what it's like and the touchline.
“I enjoyed every minute of it, every moment. Sometimes it's that stepping back, giving yourself a little bit of a breather and thinking space to go again, but it's just wanting to focus on the players and give them as much support as I can.”
He admitted it had been a tough week for people at the club with change coming so soon in a season, but says it has been business as usual for most, and it will be until a new manager comes in.
“It affects everyone when you lose a manager or get a change at a football club,” he said.
“It’s a regular thing in the game nowadays, but it's one of those ones where you just do have to get on and move on very quickly, because you always know it does turn around very quickly in football.
“For us, the staff and the players and the fans as well, they would want to know potentially who the next person coming in is and [who will be] seeing today’s performance.
“There's going to be some that are still going to be really disappointed in how it all started, to then how it all finished, but I just see it as it's one of those ones where until I'm told differently, everyone's aware of [what’s happening].
“It's something that I've always looked to get into and look to do. I’m just appreciating all the fans that came down today, just disappointed that we couldn't get them to leave a little bit more.”