Burnley are close to appointing Vincent Kompany as their new manager, giving Ryan Lowe and Preston a high-profile challenge next season.
The Clarets were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United.
Former Preston defender Mike Jackson – installed as caretaker manager following the sacking of Sean Dyche – wasn’t quite able to keep Burnley up.
North End fans have been partly mocking the Clarets and partly excited as the two clubs finally meet in the Championship again next season.
In fact, we will now see Burnley, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Preston all in the same division for the first since 1961.
Burnley are close to appointing Vincent Kompany
Ryan Lowe has already experienced two big derbies as Preston boss.
The first came against Blackpool, beating them 1-0 at Deepdale in April.
The second was against Blackburn Rovers, but North End were hammered 4-1 at home.
Lowe now knows all about those derbies now and will soon find out about the Burnley rivalry too.
This was the top rivalry back in the 2000’s; of course Blackpool were ‘hated’ more, but we would regularly play Burnley compared to infrequent Blackpool meetings.
Who can forget Ricardo Fuller’s Deepdale hat-trick or the late Simon Whaley winner at Turf Moor?
It’s exciting to have the Preston v Burnley rivalry back once again.
Burnley are of course searching for a new manager after sacking Dyche – and they appear to have found their man.
The Guardian report that Burnley are close to appointing Vincent Kompany as their new boss.
Kompany will be leaving Anderlecht to take over as Burnley boss in what seems to be a coup for the Clarets.
Kompany, 36, was a four-time Premier League title-winner with Manchester City but has now turned to coaching.
After two years back in Belgium with Anderlecht, Kompany will seemingly return to the North West with Burnley.
That’s a big name for Burnley and a big challenge for Lowe and Preston next season.
Lowe loved being a nuisance to defenders in his playing days, now he can try and do the same as a manager up against Kompany and Burnley.
This appointment certainly won’t scare Lowe, and Preston fans will be looking forward to giving Kompany a hostile reception next season.