West Brom target Alex Neil making plans for next season with Preston
Albion managerial target Alex Neil insists he has ‘no intention’ of leaving Preston North End and is already making plans for next season.
The Baggies are known admirers of Neil, who has guided Preston into a play-off race despite operating with one of the lowest budgets in the division.
But the 37-year-old addressed the links with the Albion job at a fans’ forum this week.
As reported by the Lancashire Evening Post, Neil told Preston supporters: “I have got no intention of going anywhere else.
“I speak to Peter Ridsdale all the time about what we are doing here.
“There have been no discussions with any other club. My sole focus is on Preston and we are making plans for next season.”
Neil is on a rolling contract at Deepdale, which would currently require a compensation fee to extract him from.
Ridsdale, who is advisor to owner Trevor Hemmings, said: “Alex signed a contract to say ‘I’m Preston North End manager’, the same as you would with any company.
“That contract has a figure in it which if things go wrong, he would get in compensation.
“Then there is a figure in there for if another club comes in for him. We like to think the contract expresses how much we appreciate him and his worth. It is reviewed each season.”
Ridsdale is happy Neil has been linked with the Albion job.
“That is fantastic,” he said. “The last thing we want is a manager who no-one else wants.
“The fact there is speculation about Alex shows what a good job he is doing.
“I’m happy and confident that the environment we have created here gives Alex the chance to be successful.”
Albion currently have first team coach James Shan in caretaker charge, and are unlikely to remove him from the hot-seat unless form takes a nosedive.
Interest in both Neil and Slavisa Jokanovic – the two previous front-runners for the job – is expected to be revisited in the summer if the Baggies don’t go up this season.
