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OWLS: Sheffield Wednesday 'fortunate to have Irvine'
LEICESTER boss Nigel Pearson believes Sheffield Wednesday are "lucky" to have a manager of the calibre of Alan Irvine.
The Scot was harshly shown the door at Preston in December despite leading the Lillywhites to the Championship play-offs last May.
Preston chairman Derek Shaw handed Irvine his P45 following a run of just two wins from 14 matches.
Irvine was one of 54 managerial casualities in 2009 and former Wednesday great Pearson, who brings his Leicester squad to Hillsborough this afternoon, reckons Preston's decision to axe Irvine was "ridiculous".
Pearson said: "I know Alan well; he is a good man, a very good coach and I know it will be a tough game today.
"I thought it was ridiculous when Alan lost his job at Preston. He is an excellent coach and I think Wednesday are lucky to have someone like him."
Pearson, who guided the Foxes to the League One title last season, says he is concerned by the managerial-merry-go-round.
"What it shows you is there is no tolerance now and may be expectations are not realistic," he said. "But those are the circumstances that everyone works under.
"I, like every other manager, do everything we can to win games because it is a results business and that won't change."
After a brief renaissance under Irvine, the Owls have slumped back into the drop zone after three successive league defeats.
Leicester playmaker Richie Wellens, formerly of Doncaster Rovers, is surprised to see the Owls in the relegation dogfight. "I am shocked that they are down there," he said. "They are a big club and they should be a top Championship club pushing to get in the Premier League.
"Wednesday have to win three or four on the bounce like they did when Alan first came in. That shows that they are capable of putting a run together so they have just got to put that sort of run together again."
Meanwhile, Irvine has challenged Frank Simek to force his way back into the starting 11.
The 26-year-old, who has been on international duty with USA this week, was a shock omission from the Owls line-up in last weekend's 5-0 thrashing at Reading.
Irvine handed the right-back spot to new loan signing Eddie Nolan, who impressed on his debut, and demoted Simek to the substitutes bench.
Barring any late injuries, Irvine is poised to keep Nolan in the full-back position for today's match.
Up until the trip to Reading, Simek had started four matches in a row under Irvine after replacing hamstring victim Lewis Buxton in the team's 2-1 victory over Plymouth in January.
"Frank has not had an opportunity to come and see me as he has been away with the US," said Irvine. "Hopefully he responds in the way that you want all players to respond and that is that he thinks he needs to work harder and make sure that he stays in the team when he gets his chance again."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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