The words “Grim Reaper” summons a clear and obvious image. A figure, in a hooded, black cloak, carrying a scythe in one hand, a roll of parchment in the other, bearing the names of the damned. Ask a football fan who they see when they hear those two words, and one man springs to mind. Former Leeds Utd, Barnsley, and Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale has a list of clubs on the CV that he won’t want a reference from, so when he rocked up on the Deepdale doorstep at the request of owner Trevor Hemmings, you could be forgiven for adding Preston North End to the list of clubs who would soon be crying out for aid.
His work at Plymouth Argyle, however, gives hope to those of the Lilywhite persuasion. Saving the Pilgrims from certain doom, he kept the club afloat long enough to bring in new investment to see the club through what will surely be the worst of the Home Park club’s problems. When asked if Ridsdale can repeat the same feat at cash-strapped Preston, who have recently announced are losing £750k per month, season ticket holder Jacob Thompson has his doubts.
“He has already set his stall out to cut costs, which can be done. I'm just worried about the ability and size of the squad when all the better players and high earners go and we replace them all with kids if that is what happens. Hopefully the only way is up.”
Certainly Preston fans could rightly feel, as Thompson puts it, “Devastated”, when the news was first announced, and there seems to be a number of Preston fans who aren’t ready to give the new chairman a chance to allow things to improve.
“When they put a brief video announcing him as chairman on the big screen at half time against Chesterfield, the majority of fans booed him!” Thompson revealed, showing Preston fans are nearing the end of their patience with the financial side of the club after the slump in the last 18 months, but according to Thompson, the finances are not the reason that the Deepdale club are struggling.
“At the moment it isn't lack of investment letting us down. The squad we have is good enough to be top 6 or top 2! The likes of Hume and Coutts would walk into all sides in the division and probably at a higher level. It says it all when Darel Russell can't even get on the bench for us, but goes on loan to Charlton who are top and gets straight in the team, and is part of the team that ends Huddersfield Town’s 50 game unbeaten run.
“The main problem for us is poor management. Square pegs in round holes. We signed a left back who never plays. Our only left winger plays at left back. On left wing we have a player with no left foot! And Coutts, probably the best CM in the league is stuck out wide on the right while the likes of Alexander, Ashbee and Nicholson who are past it our played time after time in the middle after many poor performances.
“Brown keeps on playing good players out of position, and it is becoming frustrating for the fans. He brought in Nathan Doyle, a central midfielder, on loan from Barnsley and played him at right back even though he had two on the bench. Of the 5 permitted subs, he regularly has 3 defenders, leaving space for only one attacking player doesn’t allow us to change our game plan if things aren’t going well. We have a batch ofpromising youngsters like Adam Barton, George Miller, and Bailey Wright to mention a few, and they haven’t been given an opportunity, despite the fact that they play in the positions that we have been struggling in all season”.
If this is to be believed, it is not the boardroom where the main problem is. Preston’s problems lie firmly on the pitch for the moment, with the manager looking like the fans’ main cause for concern. With the large number of solid managers, known for getting the job done on a small budget currently available at this level, could Phil Brown’s days at the helm of Deepdale be numbered?
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