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John Welsh departs after six years at the club, his last meaningful action saw him sent off against Wolves when their player apparently died after being tackled but a true professional throughout his time at the club.

John Welsh will end his six year association with the Lilywhites when his contract comes to an end in the summer.

The Liverpudlian-midfielder was brought to the club by Graham Westley in the summer of 2012 and he has been a fantastic servant and leader in the dressing room, making almost 200 appearances for the Lilywhites.

He was club captain and brought a superb work ethic and attitude to the club that he has passed on to the players around him, including working with the Academy in recent times.

The 34-year-old lifted the Play-Off Final winners’ trophy at Wembley alongside Tom Clarke in 2015 and has been a firm fans’ favourite during his time at Deepdale due to his commitment and never say die attitude.
The club will say thank you to John with a presentation on the pitch prior to Sunday’s final home league game of the regular season against Burton Albion.

Speaking about the No.19, current manager Alex Neil said: “It is with sadness that we say thank you and goodbye to a player who has been a fantastic servant to this club.

“John is one of our longest serving players and he has been a captain and a leader in the dressing room.
“He has been excellent to work with and has been a model professional and I am delighted we are giving him a send off before kick-off on Sunday and I join everyone else connected with the club in thanking him for what he has done, during the peak of his career, for Preston North End and wish him all the best in the future, wherever he ends up playing next year.

“Wherever that is, I know he will be an asset to them.”

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Preston North End have agreed a deal to sign Oxford United’s Ryan Ledson.


The England youth international midfielder will sign a three-year deal ready to join up with the Lilywhites when they return for pre-season training at the end of June.

The club will pay an undisclosed fee for the 20-year-old former Everton player, who scooped the player of the year, young player of the year and goal of the season awards at the U’s end of season gala event.

Speaking about the latest addition to his squad, manager Alex Neil said: “He had a great upbringing when he was at Everton as a kid and he has come through the England ranks as well. He has played 100 league games and he is only 20 years of age and he has played at a good level.

“When we have been watching him and all the bits we have seen of him, he will certainly contribute to what we are trying to do.
“I think it is a great signing for us. I think he has a bright future ahead of him and I think he is the right type of character we want at the club as well. We are losing one of these type of characters in John Welsh and I think we are replacing him with a younger version who can hopefully go and kick on and have a great career.”

The club failed in a bid to bring Ryan to the club in January’s transfer window, but he was delighted to be able to conclude a deal and to return to his native north west.

He said: “I am really looking forward to joining the club. I know there was interest in January and there were a few bids made, but now it has finally got over the line and I can’t wait to get started.

“I always saw Oxford as a great opportunity to get games and prove I was capable of playing higher. My time there was brilliant, but I am really forward now to getting back up north and playing for Preston.
“In the last two years I have played in League Two and League One and now I am going to go and play in the Championship, which will be tough, but hopefully I will adapt to it and play a few games.”

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Michael Crowe signed from Ipswich

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Preston North End have completed the signing of Exeter City’s centre half Jordan Storey.

The 20-year-old defender has agreed a four-year deal at Deepdale, joining for an undisclosed fee.

The Yeovil-born player came through the ranks at St James’ Park, breaking into the first team squad earlier this year and retaining his place as the Grecians reached the Play-Off Final at Wembley.

He played in the successful semi-final games against Lincoln City, as well as starting against Coventry City under the arch at Wembley, finishing the campaign with 17 appearances and two goals for the side that was then managed by Paul Tisdale.

After putting pen to paper with the Lilywhites, Jordan said: “It is a new challenge for me and I can’t wait to get started at a big club.



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“The last couple of months have been great for me. We managed to get to the Play-Off Final [at Exeter City]. It didn’t manage to work out for us, but on a personal note, from where I have come from, it has been great for me.
“I now want to learn as much as I can. The manager is going to mould me and build me into the best player that I can hopefully. It was nice to speak to him and to get to know him and I am looking forward to getting started.

“It is a cracking stadium and it is different to what I have been playing in regularly and I can’t wait to get started and show what I am about.”

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And Greg Cunningham leaves for Cardiff for a fee of 3.5 million inevitable really don't think he was really fully fit after his injury last season but do not begrudge him a crack at the top division

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The Lilywhites’ fourth signing of the summer sees Graham Burke join Preston North End from League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers.

The 24-year-old arrives at Deepdale for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.

The Dublin-born player came through the same youth set up at Aston Villa as new team-mates Callum Robinson and Daniel Johnson, but returned to his home city, where he has scored nine goals in 16 league appearances already this season to sit joint top of the scoring charts.

Last month he was called up for Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland squad for the first time, alongside Robinson, Sean Maguire, Daryl Horgan and Alan Browne and marked his first start, against the USA, with his side’s equalising goal.

That goal was the first by a League of Ireland player for 40 years – when another former PNE and Shamrock Rovers man, Ray Treacy, scored against Turkey in 1978!
Speaking after completing the move to PR1, Graham said: “It was brilliant to hear the news of Preston North End’s interest. I was thrilled with the opportunity to have the chance to come to such a good club as this.

“It was also great to be joining a club where I know some of the boys, so it should help me settle in.

“I have kept a close eye on the club with the Irish players going over there and knowing the likes of Callum [Robinson] and DJ, so when I found out about the interest, it was a no brainer for me to try and get the deal done.

“It is brilliant to be part of this group. Looking at last season, we finished just two points outside the Play-Offs and to do that with such a young group illustrates the hunger that is there and I have the same desire to get better as a football player.
“All young players want to improve and the ambitions we have as individuals and as a group are to get into the Premier League and all the boys will be fighting for that.”

Graham will join fellow new recruits Michael Crowe, Ryan Ledson and Jordan Storey in starting pre-season with Alex Neil’s squad when they join back up at the end of the month.

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Luke Garbett from Everton

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Should be in rumour thred

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Andrew Hughes from Peterborough 500,000

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The Lilywhites have completed the permanent signing of Peterborough United left back Andrew Hughes for an undisclosed fee.

The Cardiff-born defender has agreed a three-year deal at Deepdale until at least the summer of 2021.

Andrew, who recently turned 26, started his career at Newport County, before impressing at Posh, where he made over 100 appearances in the past two years, scoring four goals.

Having played alongside Ben Davies at Newport as well as against Billy Bodin in youth football, he will join some familiar faces in the dressing room in PR1 and admitted he is looking forward to getting started.
Speaking after putting pen to paper he said: “I am delighted to get it over the line. It has all happened quite quickly and I can’t wait to get started now.

“I enjoyed myself in League One, but I am not looking forward to the challenge of the Championship. As a player you always want to challenge yourself at the highest level possible and I am looking forward to it.”

[themaclad]

Tommy Spurr season long loan to Fleetwood