But despite finishing in 13th, 12th and 10th, he has departed after discussions with the club’s board on Sunday.club director Peter Risdale said it was "mutually agreed that now was an appropriate time for a change to be made.
The Liverpool-born manager had won promotion with both Bury and Plymouth out of League Two and Argyle were riding high in League One when he left to take up the challenge at Preston. However, that campaign was marked by a serious lack of goals. North End managed just 45 across the season. That included comprehensive defeats by three of the division’s top five in Leicester City, Ipswich Town and West Bromwich Albion.