Former Airbus UK Broughton manager Andy Preece has been appointed as the new manager of Scunthorpe United after leaving National League North side Chorley.
The 59-year-old has signed an 18-month contract with The Iron, who are battling to avoid relegation after a difficult start to the season.
Scunthorpe currently sit second-bottom of the table, seven points adrift of safety, having recorded just three wins from their opening 15 matches.
Preece arrives at Glanford Park with a reputation for achieving success against the odds, having helped guide Chorley to promotion from the National League North and established the club among the leading sides in non-league football.
Andy Preece explains excitement at Scunthorpe United opportunity
Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside following his appointment, Preece made no secret of his excitement at taking charge of the struggling National League side.
“I’m absolutely buzzing. I’m so, so excited,” he said.
“I’ve worked so, so hard over so many years to get this opportunity and at times I thought it’s never going to happen.
“I’ve never given up that belief that if I keep getting results and winning games of football and achieving things against the odds that at some point someone will see what I’m doing and give me the opportunity.
“Anybody who knows me will know how hard I’ve worked to get this opportunity and now it’s just a start for me.
“There’s a lot to be done at this football club, but I’m ready to get my hands dirty.”
Preece also highlighted the challenge facing him, explaining that Scunthorpe’s current predicament was something he was determined to address.
He added: “I think that matches me and the team’s in a bit of trouble at the minute and I like to be the one to get them out of that trouble and then move the club onwards and upwards.”
Andy Preece’s previous success at Airbus UK Broughton
Preece will be a familiar name to Welsh football supporters following his spell at Airbus UK Broughton, where he served as Director of Football and manager between January 2012 and August 2016.
During his time with the Welsh club, he played a significant role in transforming Airbus from a team towards the bottom of the table into regular contenders for European qualification.
After arriving midway through the 2011/12 campaign, Preece helped the club achieve its highest-ever league finish at the time, securing seventh place.
That progress continued over the following seasons, with Airbus finishing second in both the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns before claiming third place in 2014/15.
Those results saw the club qualify for the UEFA Europa League for three consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2015.
European experience helped transform the Welsh club
Airbus’ success under Preece also brought opportunities to compete against established clubs from across Europe.
The Cymru Premier side faced Latvian outfit FK Ventspils, Norwegian club FK Haugesund and Croatian opposition in European competition, gaining valuable experience on the continental stage.
Although Airbus were unable to progress from those ties, their performances represented a significant achievement for a club that had made such considerable progress in a relatively short period.
Preece’s ability to improve teams, deliver results and work within challenging circumstances will now be tested at Scunthorpe.
With The Iron seven points from safety and facing a battle to climb away from the relegation places, his immediate priority will be to turn around their fortunes and give supporters renewed optimism.
His 18-month contract represents an opportunity to build beyond the current campaign, but the immediate focus will be on getting Scunthorpe moving in the right direction.
