Season › 2013-14 › News Irvine: Hard to leave Everton Lyndon Lloyd , 19 June, 0comments | Jump to most recent Alan Irvine says that while he was not looking for a move away from his role as manager of Everton's Academy Director, the allure of managing in the Premier League was too much to turn down. The Scot was announced as West Bromwich Albion's new manager over the weekend and he will now begin preparations for the challenge of keeping the Baggies in the Premier League next season after a disappointing campaign in 2013-14. "It was a really difficult opportunity to turn down," Irvine told evertontv. "I loved my time as Academy Director at Everton and I can't thank the Club enough for all the support they have given me. "I certainly wasn't looking to move away but this opportunity came up and it's a fantastic opportunity for me. How do you turn down the chance to manage in the Premier League? Irvine his grateful for the opportunity to work at what he regards as his club over the last few years, though. "Everton is my Club and it's a Club that since the first day I started as a player right through to now has been a special place for me," he continued. [T]here's something special about Everton and it's really, really difficult to move on from here because of what it does mean. I also can't thank people enough for what they've done while I've been here." Quotes sourced from EvertonFC.com About these ads © ToffeeWeb