Former Preston North End managers have had mixed success in the past after leaving Deepdale.
Graham Westley gradually fell down the pyramid and is now out of work, as is Billy Davies who has almost disappeared after good spells at Derby County and Nottingham Forest.
Darren Ferguson is in his third spell in charge of Peterborough United, and Phil Brown was manager of Southend United who fell out of the Football League this season.
Perhaps the most high profile Preston manager in recent memory is David Moyes. After his success with The Lilywhites, he established himself as a solid Premier League manager with Everton, but the chance with Manchester United was always going to be tough in the circumstances.
After spells with Real Sociedad and Sunderland, Moyes enjoyed his best season for a while this year, guiding West Ham United to 6th in the Premier League and into the Europa League.
He did so with the help of another former Preston manager in Alan Irvine. Also his assistant at Everton, Irvine managed Preston between 2007 and 2009 and led them into the play-offs on a dramatic final day in the 2008-09 season. The Scot has been his assistant in both spells at West Ham but it looks as if he will have a different role for the forthcoming season.
According to Football Insider, Alan Irvine is set to become the Director of Football for The Hammers.
It would see him in charge of transfers and player negotiations, something Moyes would have great trust in his long time aide delivering on.
Irvine would not need to be in the dugout every match now, and it could allow him to return to his North-West base. West Ham took many by surprise last season, and Moyes and Irvine will be looking to build on that success.