Football FanCast columnist Brett Cullen reflects on the fine work of Alan Irvine and feels that the club board should back his ventures so he can get Preston North End back challenging in the Championship next season.

It's been a long old season for Preston North End, full of ups and downs, oohs and aahs, but it's now time to breathe a sigh of relieve. Championship status for next season is secure and Alan Irvine can now wipe the slate clean and prepare for next year.

Ok, so there's one game left which could potentially decide who could be playing top flight football next season, but that's all irrelevant now isn't it? After a real rollercoaster of a season it's time to relax, put your feet up and be a proud Preston supporter...to an extent.

This season has not been something to be proud of... it's only because of Alan Irvine that PNE won't be playing alongside the likes of Leeds in the third tier of the English game. That's what I am putting it down to anyway.

As this season overall has been drab to say the least it's time to move on. In the last edition we looked at the individuals and how they have played their part and we all know that Alan Irvine turned the fortunes of North End. So we really must not dwell on this failure. Preston, one of the founders of the Football League, needs to be making an assault on the Championship next season. If teams like Stoke and Bristol City are considered two of the most fearsome teams outside the Premiership, then Preston can surely consider themselves as one of the teams who can become their equivalent in the 08/09 term.

More quality is needed though in the final third as well as being more creative in the middle of the park, if they hope to make the step up. I don't think Irvine needs to add to the eight decent defenders already at his disposal, but money is tight, so finding the bright spark to unlock defences will be difficult. But it has to be done because although Alan Irvine has turned the clubs fortunes around, we need to move on and he must bring in the right players because another season fighting relegation isn't what the club, the players or then fans want.

I obviously hope that next season will be an improvement on this past one, and I expect it too. But I think it would be naive to expect a top 6 finish. It will take a lot of hard work over the course of the season but also during the summer. I trust Irvine in the leadership of the club and think that he is the next big thing in management. Next season he will have a chance to prove it and the board should back him in all his ventures.

A couple of good quality players would fit the superb surroundings that they will be playing in next season nicely. The new stand is now taking shape and hopefully will be full along with the rest to get behind the Whites on the pitch. One thing I will say about the new Invincible's Pavilion is that I am not sure why there are more corporate places available. Sure it will look nice with the sliding doors and understand the revenues it will bring but surely more seats should have been made available to the average Joe's like me and you instead of looking after the prawn sandwich brigades.

On the Championship season itself... I hope West Brom, Watford and Stoke get promoted to the Premier League. Why I hear you ask? Well we don't want another waste of space like Derby in their do we. Watford and West Brom will make a good effort and at least have that little bit of quality in their squad to make a good go at fighting relegation right from the off. Stoke will play a tough game with a good defence and a few decent players in the likes of Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller going forward. They are the best three teams in the League and are the ones who you would want to represent The Championship so to speak. But it's going to be interesting and definitely a one to watch, just like at the other end of the table.