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All incoming deals done Boyle to Ross County on loan

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Burke on loan to Gillingham

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O'CONNOR to Cork on loan

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O'Reilly on loan to Hyde

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Preston North End will say goodbye to six players whose contracts come to a conclusion at the end of June.

The majority of those players finished the current season out on loan at various clubs; Andy Boyle at Ross County, Ben Pringle at Tranmere Rovers, Marnick Vermijl at MVV Maastricht in Holland, Michael Howard at Stalybridge Celtic and Tom Stead at Kendal Town.

Tommy Spurr, meanwhile, returned to the club at Christmas after beginning the season on loan at Fleetwood Town, but a significant hip injury ended his season early.

All other players, are under contract, with Graham Burke set to return from his loan at Gillingham for pre-season and Connor Simpson the same from his spell with Carlisle United. Chris Maxwell will also return from his loan spell at Charlton Athletic following the conclusion of their Play-Off campaign.

Of the second year scholars, Adam O’Reilly has already signed a two-year deal, to join Jack Baxter, who did the same the previous summer. They will be joined in the professional ranks by Jack Armer, who will be offered a deal to move up to work with Alex Neil’s squad. The remaining second year scholars will leave the club.

Loan players Brandon Barker and Lukas Nmecha will return to Manchester City after their year-long temporary moves come to an end.

Preston North End would like to thank all the departing players for their effort and commitment to the club during their time at Deepdale and wish them all the very best in their future careers.

[themaclad]

Jack Armer 'Over The Moon' To Sign First Professional Deal
22 May 2019


@pnefc

Young defender Jack Armer was delighted to put pen to paper on his first professional contract at his boyhood club.

Armer joined the club's Academy at the age of seven and has risen through the ranks to sign a one-year professional deal with the club, with an option of a further year.

Speaking to PNE.Com after signing the contract, Jack described the moment as a dream come true, having supported the club from a young age.

"I'm over the moon," Jack told the club website, "it's what I have worked for since I have been at the club which has been from the age of seven. I've just turned 18 and so I have worked for 11 years for this and so I'm really happy to get it done.

"I've always supported the club, my mum and dad support the club and so to finally have a chance to play for Preston North End is a dream come true."

Speaking of his experiences with the first team this season, which has included training regularly at Springfields and being a part of the matchday squad on a number of occasions, the Preston-born defender spoke of the differences in the step up to first team football.

"It's been a great experience training with the first team this season, it's a lot faster and stronger with the first team, everyone knows where the ball is going next and so you have to get up to speed quickly otherwise you won't fit in.

"It's a lot different to youth team football, there's more pressure on the games, you have fans coming to watch and the games mean even more so to be around it on a matchday has been great and hopefully it's something I can experience a lot more.

Armer has also been a regular in the Scotland youth set up and he feels his experience on the international stage is something he feels has helped him to develop further.

"It's always good to get picked to go away and play against better opposition, and people who are more experienced. Quite a lot of players that we play against play first team football regularly so they are obviously a little bit better than you are so you have to learn quickly and compete.

Jack will join fellow Academy graduates Adam O'Reilly and Jack Baxter in the first team set up, with the midfield duo also signing professional deals over the last 12 months.



"I've played with Jack since I've been here, Jack joined at the same time as me and then Adam joined when he was 16 so we have played with each other for a while now.

On youth getting a chance under manager Alex Neil, the young defender continued: "The gaffer has been great to work with so far, he knows what he's talking about and he offers me advice on what I am doing right and what I'm doing wrong and that can only improve me.

"It gives you that bit of belief that you can go and make it. At some other clubs you would just get turned away but here, young players do get given a chance and you just have to take it when you get given it.

"You are just straight in to the first team squad here, and hopefully you get that opportunity quicker than you might do at other clubs. Going in to the new season, I just want to try and make a few appearances for this club to start with, get my name out there and show the gaffer that I can do."

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Michael Howard joins Morecambe

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Although released sad news that Tommy Spurr has had to retire due to injury

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Bauer done and dusted

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Preston North End have completed their first signing of the summer by signing German defender Patrick Bauer.

The 26-year-old centre half has agreed a three-year deal at Deepdale from 1st July after turning down a new deal at Charlton Athletic.

The former German youth international, who played for his national side up to the U20 age group, scored the winning goal in injury-time in the League One Play-Off Final for Addicks, as Lee Bowyer’s side earned promotion back to the Championship against Sunderland at Wembley.

This proved to be the last of the Backnang-born player’s 135 appearances for Charlton, since he signed for the club in June 2015. Prior to that, he started his career in his native Germany with Stuttgart, before spending three years in the Portuguese top flight with Maritimo.

Speaking after completing the formalities of the agreement Patrick said: “I am really excited to be here. I am happy to play finally in the Championship again and I am really delighted. I can’t wait to meet all my new team-mates, all the staff and management and get started.

“I was four years at Charlton, we had some disappointing moments, but also highs, like the promotion this season. I spent a good time there, but it was time for me to start a new chapter in my career and I am really excited to be here now.”

Manager Alex Neil stated at the beginning of the summer his intent to add some more experience to the squad and feels that his first summer recruit will add vital competition in the group.

He added: “Patrick is a strong and powerful defender who we have monitored closely. He has experience of playing at the top level in Portugal and adapted very well to English football in the past few years and he will add more competition to our defence in the central positions.”

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O’Connor staying on loan at Cork until the end of the season