Burnley X-Files: Unsworth in Preston Coaching Role

Former Clarets defender and England international David Unsworth has joined Preston North End as development coach.It is understood Unsworth will now oversee the club’s first-year professionals in a similar role to that offered to John Henry at Turf Moor.

North End gaffer, Alan Irvine explaining the appointment to the Lancashire Evening Post this morning said:

‘There is a gap between the youth-team and first-team set-up and we have a handful of players who weren’t really being looked after by anyone in particular.I thought there was an advantage in bringing someone in and I think David coming in will be a really good appointment for the club.I know him from Everton and always found him to be a terrific player there. He’s a Chorley lad and has always been a Preston fan.’

Alan Irvine was assistant manager at Goodison Park when Unsworth was playing for the club.

Unsworth signed for the Clarets after being released by Wigan at the end of the 2006-7 season. He agreed a one-year contract and played 27 games for the Clarets first under Steve Cotterill and then Owen Coyle. Coyle was willing to offer him another contract at the end of the season with a chance to also move into coaching but Unsworth turned it down ostensibly because he felt he would not got much opportunity to play. He left Turf Moor in June 2008 and eventually signed for Huddersfield in August 2008 following a trial.

Unsworth however was released from his contract in March 2009 and one month later announced his retirement thus bringing his playing career to an end at the age of 35.

It had been thought that Burnley might still offer Unsworth some opportunity in coaching at Turf Moor since he had kept in touch with the club. However with the announcement that John Henry would be coming to Turf Moor to coach the first year professionals that opportunity seemed to evaporate.