In The Saturday Interview, Paul Agnew meets new Preston North End boss David Moyes

HEARD the one about the football manager who gave his chairman a vote of confidence?

Well, you have now.

"What gives me confidence is the confidence I have in the chairman. He's loyal and when he speaks he speaks the truth."

David Moyes, the latest in a succession of managers given the chance of shaking Preston North End out of a comatose state, clearly feels that he has an ally in one Bryan Gray.

Even allowing for the entirely unpredictable and topsy-turvy world of professional football where fact and fiction often unite as one, it's been a strange old time down Deepdale way of late.

The President's been knighted, the manager's resigned (but looks like staying on in another role) while the fans have involved themselves in sit down demonstrations.

And now this.

Had the script, particularly that aforementioned quote, been penned for a soap opera the writer may well have faced a grilling.

The accusation? Too far removed from reality.

But, come on, when has football followed any sort of logic. Never, that's when.

The can of responsibility for playing matters was handed to 34-year-old Moyes this week and he'll carry it until the end of the season. The man he had been assisting, Gary Peters, quit on Monday. But, before nipping off for a month's leave, during which time he will agonise on an offer to join the club's youth structure, Peters recommended his deputy for the main role.

David Moyes is young, 34, still a contracted player (defender) and a Scot.

Other former PNE defenders of the same nationality have gone on to manage - think no further than Bill Shankly, Tommy Docherty.

Moyes is very much his own man.

He's known since his teen years that one day he'd have a crack at management - now his ambition is to manage Scotland.

Not your-run-of-the-mill footballer David Moyes.

"When I was at Celtic I was involved in the Scotland youth team. After training and playing we were used as "guinea pegs," runners if you like - we helped the coaches with the leg work.

"People like Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown and Walter Smith were involved and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the other side of football.

"It appealed to me straight off and I started my coaching course when I was only 21. Three years later I had my full badge and I often went to the session as a volunteer.

"I admit to a thirst for knowledge and wanting to become a manager isn't something that I first thought about last week, it's been with me throughout my career.

"I must say though that the first day was still a shock. After Gary's decision was announced I suddenly found myself stepping out of the shadows into a constant round of interviews, back slapping, phone calls. It was a relief when I went along to start work where I belong, on the training ground. "After the session it hit me again. Back at the club, messages galore, realising that when people wanted the manager they wanted me. It hasn't eased up yet. It's going to take time to properly understand it all, but I accept it as part of the job."

Thirty six hours after being unveiled as the new chief Moyes was watching his charges beat Macclesfield in the Auto Windscreens Shield at Moss Rose. Wembley is now four games away.

A further 24 hours later he was playing for the reserves in a 1-0 Pontin's League home defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Hectic - you better believe it.

"My feet haven't touched the ground," says the one-time Celtic, Cambridge, Bristol City, Shrewsbury and Dunfermline stopper who joined North End from Hamilton four years ago.

"John Beck brought me here just when I felt I would end my playing career in Scotland and then try to get a coaching or management job. Glad he did too, Preston is a great club and it is a privilege for me to get my first opportunity here.

"Becky had his own ways and ideas and while I might not have agreed with them all he certainly taught me a lot.

"I have spoken to many managers and friends within the game over the last couple of days. They have highlighted things I need to look out for and, to be honest, I have already put a couple of the tips into practice.

"Every player knows he has a clean start and we all know that the squad has under-performed this season.

"People expected us to be challenging up at the top and here we are in the bottom half. I have 20 or so games to change that situation. "I'm lucky because football is my hobby as well as my livelihood. I am used to going out on the circuit doing the round of games in midweek - and I enjoy it."

It's only a couple of weeks since David appeared in the first team - a defeat at Grimsby - but will the extra pressure of managing now bring a premature end to the playing?

"Who knows? If I don't make a go of it between now and the end of the season, reverting to being a player could be a useful option.

"Seriously though I would not say for a minute that I have played my last game. I will pick the best team and if I feel I should be in then I will select myself without hesitation."

David appreciates that Judgment Day looms in May. Whether it's fair that he should only get four months to prove himself is debatable.

But, then again, he can count on the chairman - of course he can. Can't he?

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.