Iain Houston bids to finish off Preston job

PRESTON ATHLETIC caretaker manager Iain Houston was persuaded to take the job by the departing manager Stevie Myatt, who had been informed by the chairman that “even if you win the league you will be sacked”.

Houston, who has been eleven years with Preston as a player and a coach after joining them from Edina Hibs, said: “After Stevie’s position became untenable after 12 years in charge, he encouraged the coaching staff to stay at least until the end of the season, such was his passion for the club. It was disappointing for Billy Byrne, Jimmy Hadden and myself, although Stevie showed great dignity in the way he departed company with Preston Athletic.

“We were left with the job of trying to get Preston back into the Premier Division – the league where I believe that they should be playing in. To a degree that situation is mathematically out of our hands after losing 3-1 to Gala Fairydean last Saturday. We had done well against Eyemouth United in the previous game and I’m not sure if some of our players against Gala already had their eyes on the prize of promotion. We were never really out of the game but when we lost a penalty we also seemed to lose our shape.

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“Now we face Coldstream tomorrow and they have had some decent results. We have asked the players to reflect on their performances last Saturday but not to be too hard on themselves. Tomorrow we want them to apply themselves but also enjoy themselves.”

Houston has injury doubts surrounding Fraser Henderson, Bryan Wilson, Gary Kennedy and Ross Gilpin.