ALAN IRVINE

I’m told nobody at Goodison begrudges Alan his move into he limelight.
He is universally well-liked and the Good Cop to Moyes's..ahem...Andy Sipowicz from NYPD Blue with the players.
This news led to a few furrowed blue brows at Old Hall Street as we tried to analyse Irvine’s impact on the team - and what losing him will entail.
Will this hit us as hard as the RS losing Paco Ayesteran?
I’m clinging to the hope that it won’t have the same alleged demoralising, unsettling factor.
Ayesteran frequently took first team training at Melwood and was credited with a raft of ideas which helped the first team flourish.
Over at Finch Farm (rush of Bellefield nostalgia) it is Moyes who leads every training sessions and reputedly makes all the big calls.
Dare I say it, like Alex Ferguson, Moyes seemingly takes total control of first team affairs and left Irvine to deal with elements of training and traditional number two duties.
So maybe we’ll weather this change like Sir Alex weathered that kick in the knackers from a tramp.
A succession of different number twos has never harmed Ferguson’s Man United tenure.
But then he is truly a one off.
Only time will tell how much losing true gent Irvine will hurt us.
On a positive note it could be that a new, dynamic number two bursting with ideas and inspiration will give the team and Moyes a boost.