Andy Preece ‘buzzing’ for Scunthorpe United chance after years of hard work

Andy Preece admitted he had feared the chance to manage a club like Scunthorpe United might never come over the last few years – but insists he never gave up hope of earning the opportunity.

The 59-year-old has taken charge at The Attis Arena on an 18-month contract after leaving Chorley, where he spent four and a half years as manager and twice guided the Magpies into the National League North play-offs.

He succeeds Andy Butler, who left Scunthorpe last month after a difficult start to the National League campaign, with the Iron sitting second-bottom and seven points from safety.

Preece will be joined by his former Chorley assistant Chris Anderson, who has also left Victory Park, as he looks to turn around the Iron’s fortunes.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Non-League news you need, subscribe to The Non-League Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

WATCH THE LATEST NLP & FLP SPECIAL HERE

You can now listen to the Non-League Goalmouth on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Preece ready to get his ‘hands dirty’

“I’m absolutely buzzing. I’m so, so excited,” Preece told BBC Radio Humberside.

“I’ve worked so, so hard over so many years to get this opportunity and at times I thought it’s never going to happen.

“I’ve never given up that belief that if I keep getting results and winning games of football and achieving things against the odds that at some point someone will see what I’m doing and give me the opportunity.

“Anybody who knows me will know how hard I’ve worked to get this opportunity and now it’s just a start for me.

“There’s a lot to be done at this football club, but I’m ready to get my hands dirty.”

Preece believes the opportunity at Scunthorpe is a good fit for him, having seen first-hand the club’s journey back from the brink of financial collapse.

The Iron lost their 72-year place in the Football League in 2022 and suffered a second successive relegation the following season, dropping into National League North.

They returned to the fifth tier through promotion in 2025 after supporters and new ownership helped secure the club’s future.

Admiration for the Iron

Preece had also come up against Scunthorpe during his time at Chorley, including a play-off meeting in the 2024-25 campaign which left a lasting impression despite ending in defeat.

“I know all about Scunthorpe and the issues it’s had only a few years ago and then because of that I’ve come up against Scunthorpe playing-wise for Chorley,” the former Southport, Bury, Northwich Victoria and Worcester City said.

“I had the play-off game here. A fantastic game – one that although we lost it I really enjoyed the battle.

“I always got on really well with Andy [Butler] and admired what the owners had done to get this club back on its feet because it was very, very close to going out of business.

“So that passion matches my passion for my job and doing well and doing things against the odds.

“I think that matches me and the team’s in a bit of trouble at the minute and I like to be the one to get them out of that trouble and then move the club onwards and upwards.”

Subscribe to the Non-League Paper and Football League Paper YouTube channel for the latest discussions, interviews and reaction to all the big talking points in Non-League and EFL football.

‘Reluctantly agreed’

Preece’s immediate task is to turn around their fortunes and begin climbing the table as they welcome Worthing this Saturday.

Chorley, meanwhile, confirmed they had “reluctantly agreed a compensation package” with Scunthorpe for Preece’s departure on Thursday evening.

The club thanked the manager for his contribution over eight years at the club, initially as assistant manager and director of football before taking charge in May 2022.

The Magpies said chairman and former manager Jamie Vermiglio would take charge of tomorrow’s FA Trophy second round clash at home to Buxton while they begin their search for a successor.

Enjoying our Non-League coverage? Follow The Non-League Paper on Facebook for the latest news, interviews, features and reaction from across the Non-League game. Join our community and make sure you never miss a story!

READ MORE: Which Non-League clubs feature in the FA Cup second round TV picks? Full broadcast schedule