Football Season Review

Preston started the season following the mother of all clear outs, as the Lillywhites' squad at the first day of the season contained only one player who was at the club at the start of their previous campaign. The early signs were promising enough, with the Lillywhites producing some good displays, particularly at home, and they sat around the Play-off places with one quarter of the season gone. Things started to really go downhill following the 1-1 home draw against Brentford in mid November, as it was a game in which Preston lost starting full-backs Keith Keane and Scott Laird through injuries, with their absences really showing in the coming weeks. The Brentford game was a start of a run of 14 games during which the Lillywhites managed to beat only lowly Hartlepool, with Graham Westley's reign at the club ending with a 3-1 defeat at Yeovil in mid February. By that time, the majority of fans were against Westley, due to his negative tactics and poor results, and the atmosphere at the Deepdale significantly improved in the first game following Westley's departure, which ended in an impressive 2-0 win over Brentford. Simon Grayson was named the Lillywhites' new boss, with the initial task given to him being to steer the club to safety - and he achieved that result with absolute ease, as Preston played far more positive football with him at the helm and secured their survival with five matches to spare. Of course, Grayson will have a much different task next season, as he will be expected to deliver promotion - and there is little doubt that numerous summer squad changes can be expected as the experienced manager will want to get rid of some of the dead wood in the squad and bring in some new faces.

Player of the Season: Lee Holmes