Ex Preston boss Craig Brown sad at Alan Irvine sacking

Brown guided Preston to 36 wins during his time in charge at Deepdale

Former Preston manager Craig Brown has said Alan Irvine's departure from Deepdale has come out of the blue.

Brown, who is currently interim manager of Motherwell, was in charge of the Championship club for two years before he was sacked in 2004.

"I am surprised and disappointed to see that Alan has gone," Brown told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I don't think it can only be league position because I'm sure two victories and they'd be up the league again."

Confusion surrounds the future of defender Sean St Ledger after his loan move to Middlesbrough was cut short.

The Republic of Ireland international, who was due to complete his transfer on a permanent basis to the Riverside in January, returned to North End in time for Monday's defeat at Sheffield United.

They've been spoilt because they've had two wonderful managers in...David Moyes and Billy Davies

Former Preston boss Craig Brown

But Brown says it is conjecture whether that, and the possible interest from Burnley for goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan, played a part in Irvine's sacking.

"It's all hypothetical and we don't know what's gone on," he said. "It's rightly confidential between the chairman, the board and the manager.

"I think the Preston North End fans know the situation and if they turned out in the numbers they did in the play-off final I think they could then say 'we're filling the stadium every week and therefore we're entitled to spend money'.

"But when all the money that's coming in through the gates and any sponsorship deals to help them survive is used to keep Preston in the black, it's not fair to expect the manager to be at the top of that league.

Brown also believes Preston are a victim of their own success.

"They've been spoilt because they've had two wonderful managers in recent times in David Moyes and Billy Davies," he said. "Both worked wonders and over-achieved with the club.

"It's a super football club but when the average attendance is around 13,000 and the wage bill is much less than most of the clubs in the Championship I think it's unrealistic to expect Preston to be able to compete with the likes of Nottingham Forest.

"I was at Derby with Billy [Davies] and when you look at the size of that club and compare it with Preston, who are at present above Derby, you realise it's not fair to think that Preston should be among the elite."