A curious trend started happening at Deepdale a couple of seasons ago.

The club's supporters - true Lancastrians from the heart of the Red Rose county - started turning up to matches wearing tartan hats and ginger wigs.

David Moyes - a proud and loyal Scot - admitted to feeling slightly embarrassed by this show of affection from the club's fans.

But football is a fickle business and the trend to tartan was merely a tribute to Moyes' achievements at the club.

After all he has left at a crucial time of the season, with Preston pushing hard for a place in the Division One play-offs for a second successive season.

Indeed, with a crunch game against play-off and local rivals Burnley on Sunday the timing could hardly be worse.

But the club's supporters should not lose sight of the effect the ginger-haired Scot has had upon the club he has left to further his managerial ambitions.

David Moyes frequently said in his first year as Preston manager that he owed a debt of gratitude to the board at Deepdale for giving him a chance to manage the team.

After all there was little to suggest that Moyes' appointment in January 1998 was an inspired choice as opposed to another mediocre promotion from within.

Moyes was assistant to Gary Peters and given his chance after his boss was sacked with Preston facing yet another relegation to Division Three.

But it soon became apparent that Moyes and management go hand in glove.

His footballing career was workmanlike; a voyage through the lower divisions.

But he acquired his coaching badges early in his playing career and carefully compiled notes on managers he played for, different coaching techniques; what worked and what did not.

He travelled to France 98, taking an invitation to observe the Scotland squad - again watching and learning.

And what he learned was clearly put to good use.

Preston avoided the drop in 1998 and reached the Division Two play-offs the following season.