Football Season Guide

Preston have been in steady decline since their Championship Play-Off push in the 2008/09 season, and after narrowly escaping the drop next season, the Lilywhites find themselves in League One after a Championship campaign in which they hardly ever left the relegation zone. It was obvious from the start that a major squad overhaul was needed, with Preston's once impressive home form never to be seen, and the side showing only occasional flashes of quality in their away matches. Former Hull manager Phil Brown was appointed midway through the season as a replacement for Darren Ferguson but, despite sparking an improvement in form, it wasn't enough for North End to escape the bottom three. The club's board decided to stick with Brown, obviously well aware that the squad needed consistency and rebuilding. Preston are currently in a process of forming a new identity with several important players leaving them during the summer, with the departures including the transfer of keeper Andy Lonergan to Leeds, defenders Sean StLedger and Billy Jones to Leicester and WBA, while the atmosphere of an overhaul was completed by the departure of long serving left-back Callum Davidson back to his native Scotland, where he is set to play for St Johnstone. The only one of the departed players that won't be missed is striker Paul Hayes, who was hailed as an important signing last season, but never quite found the form he had while with his former club Scunthorpe in the Championship. The only player to have signed for Preston so far is highly rated Burnley central defender Clarke Carlisle, who signs on loan, but Phil Brown is in the process of trying to sign new players, and there is no doubt that further signings will be made soon, with a new goalkeeper being a priority. Still, it is difficult to see Preston challenging for a top six spot, and they should be happy to finish midtable in what will be a season of transition for them.