Why Paul McKenna could always tell Preston North End boss Graham Alexander would be a manager one day

Over a decade since hanging up his boots, Paul McKenna has finally fulfilled his ambition of becoming a manager, but he is not surprised in the slightest that Graham Alexander became one immediately.

McKenna, who has just been appointed the new Bamber Bridge boss, his first job in management, was teammates with Alexander from when he arrived at Deepdale in 1999 to his departure for Burnley in 2007.

Alexander's playing career went a lot longer than most but his intentions to be a coach were obvious. He served as joint-caretaker manager alongside David Unsworth at Preston upon the sacking of Phil Brown in 2011 and then took up a role in the club's academy after finally hanging up the boots aged 40.

Yet, the signs were clearer even sooner for those who played alongside him.

"Yeah. Yeah, I did," McKenna told The Post when asked if he always sensed Alexander would go into management.

"Most lads have hobbies and things like that but he never did. He was football, football, football.

"I remember once he bought a set of golf clubs, but he couldn't hit the ball properly, and he was far too angry to keep it up. I'll be amazed if he still plays now.

"He never had hobbies, Graham, he was just football mad. Very much like Moysey [David Moyes] was, but Moysey played golf as well.

"It didn't surprise me. He came to Preston at 27, 28. We signed him from Luton. He was always one of the elder members. I don't know what else he would have gone into if it wasn't football, that was his life."

McKenna not surprised by Alexander's success either

It wasn't long into his time with Preston's academy that Alexander landed his first management job, being hired by Fleetwood Town. Thus began a managerial career that's still going strong three promotions and over 600 games in 14 years later.

McKenna is not shocked to see how well he's done, and believes he's more than earned his chance at Championship level.

"Yeah, and with Chris [Lucketti, assistant]," he said to the question of if he expected their success.

"They've been together for a long time now. They're both really professional. That's the reason they both had really good careers.

"They joined up early doors taking the Under-18s at Preston and did really well. Then got the Fleetwood job.

"The last couple of months of my career I went over there and played under him. I knew what they were doing behind the scenes.

"Both really professional guys, go about things the right way and get respect in the game.

"So no, it doesn't surprise me that they've gone on to 600 games as a manager.

"It's incredible. It's gone quick that. He's earned his stripes.

"Some people get chances at Championship level a lot sooner than he did, so no one can say he has not earned his opportunity."

'It'd be a great fairy tale'

Alexander has landed his dream job by taking charge of Preston, but he couldn't have got it at a much worse time with the club mired in a relegation battle.

They're bottom with just five points to their name.

McKenna believes if Alexander is to get them out of the relegation zone, then the transfer window will be vital.

"The club are going to have to help him," he said.

"This January transfer window is going to be a big one for him. A couple of injuries and they are going to be desolate.

"The club need to really help him out. His hands tied.

"I'd love to see him get out of it. It's my club, ex-teammates, it'd be a great fairy tale if they can get them out of the hole."