JACK Lynch has described being sacked by Preston Athletic as “a massive shock” after the club came within a whisker of promotion.
The Panners missed out on securing a spot in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League by a single point on the last day of the season.
Ten days after the final whistle blew on the 2021-22 campaign and Preston Athletic parted company with the manager.
Lynch was disappointed to be told of the decision over the phone and said: “It has totally blind-sided me.
“Our aim this season was to finish in the top six.
“We did so well that we changed our aim.
“We had eight or nine players into our squad and lost a lot of players last season going to clubs at a higher level.
“It is really pleasing in one aspect but you have got to develop really local talent.
“I think nine players in the team are from Prestonpans.
“The rest are from mostly Musselburgh, Wallyford or Port Seton.”
The club made a statement on social media and said: “A sustained period of consideration has led to this decision and it is felt that, with all things taken into account, the club needs to make the change with regards to the role of first-team manager.
“The club would like to thank Jack for all his efforts and commitment during his tenure and wish him the very best for the future.”
Lynch, who lives in Portobello, had joined the club alongside Paul Riley before becoming manager on his own.
He was keen to stress how much he had enjoyed his five years with the club, which included facing Stenhousemuir and Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup.
He said: “I loved my time at Preston and would have loved for it come to an end in a better way, a fair way, but it is what it is now and I have to move on.
“I look back and I absolutely loved the club and the five years that I have been there.
“The first year, we built a good team and were so unlucky to get beat by Kelty Hearts, who were beating teams by more than 10 goals.
“The second season, we missed out on promotion on goal difference and again it was a fantastic season.
“The third season we had to develop and got in some fantastic players and it was brilliant.
“The fourth season was hit by Covid and it was a horrible season, and then this year has been my most enjoyable year in football, even as a player.
“As a manager elsewhere, I have had a lot of success and won leagues, won cups and promotions but for this season at Preston, it has been great and I can only praise the players.
“It is down to them – they were doing so well.
“People will say they are doing well because of the management but it was never about me at Preston – it was never, ever, ever about me.
“It was about the players and I just wanted them to finish it and do really well.
“Unfortunately, this has not been a football decision made here – it has been a personal decision.”
Lynch told Courier Sport he had already been offered the chance to work at different clubs but felt they were not the right move.
He thanked those who had worked alongside him over the last five years at the county club and said: “I would like to thank Mark Smith, Sean Docherty and Daryl Devlin for the hard work they have done with me as coaches.”
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