Exclusive:'Wishing and hoping' - Preston North End cult hero David Eyres on former club's future

Popular former Preston North End winger David Eyres has shared his hopes for his former side for the coming season and beyond.

Eyres, who played at Deepdale from 1997 to 2000, scoring 19 goals in 108 appearances. His other clubs included Blackpool, Burnley and Oldham, who he joined after leaving North End.

Along with reflecting on his time at PNE, his relationship with old boss David Moyes and his career after leaving the club, Eyres also told the Lancashire Post he hopes his former side would one day get into the Premier League. “Out of the four clubs I play for professionally, Preston's the only one who's not played in the Premier League,” Eyres said, “and each year I become a fan and I'm wishing and hoping one day Preston will play in the Premier League and I can tell everyone I played for another Premier League club!”

In an interview conducted before the signing of Alfie Devine, Eyres highlighted the importance of heavy investment to achieve that goal. On the prospect of future financial support or a full takeover at the club, he added: “They do need a lot of money, even in the Championship now.I think the Premier League's gone away and above the levels, probably in a way that no-one expected, but I think the Championship is getting closer as well.

“If we're given a chance to spend that kind of money and get the backing to bring in players, not just to play in the Championship, but to play into the Premier League as well... it's a big, big step up to go into the Premier League, but I think all North End fans would just love that opportunity and that taste to play in it.

“They would love the chance to visit all the other stadiums and be very proud of having a stadium that's worthy of the Premier League themselves. I personally would want nothing more than for Preston to get in the top flight.”

Eyres still attends PNE games and is extremely proud to be associated with the club.

“I've always been treated so well,” said Eyres, “I couldn't thank the people of Preston enough, and they know who they are, when I ask for tickets they just give me the best of the best, and look after me and treat me like royalty.

“They are a club that I hold in high regard, I've been back a couple of times over the last few years and we've been in a position where you get a little bit excited because you're on a bit of a run and we're near the top and then you're thinking, come on, is this the season? Then, all of a sudden, we've dropped down for whatever reason.

“Whether that's lack of form or the fact that the clubs around us are being more consistent and are stronger, I don’t know but I just think the fan base, all they want is a team that will do 100% of the running and, with a bit of quality, it'll get them going because once they get behind you, they're absolutely fantastic.

“I really hope this football club can have that spell in the Premier League and it'd be absolutely great if that was the case and I'm sure everybody around the football club will be thinking exactly the same. They can show everybody how big a club Preston North End are,”

Eyres, formerly a pundit and co-commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire, has been working for CAA Stellar, one of the world’s leading football agencies, for 20 years.

“I really enjoyed the BBC Lancashire gig for the five or six years I was there, but this job got more intense and, it involves getting close with the players, watching them, catching up with them, giving them advice. It’s almost a 24-7 type job.

“Of course, I'd still love to be playing, I still have that love for the game and I still do the odd charity match with Burnley, and I've had the odd game with Preston, Oldham and Blackpool as well.

“I'm still ticking over.I'm 62 years of age and everything's good.”