Nicholson poised to seal Preston move

By Andrew Moir

Published:

ON THE MOVE: Barry Nicholson.

BARRY Nicholson is closing in on a move to English Championship side Preston North End.

The midfielder, who quit Aberdeen this summer, will pen a two year deal at Deepdale should he pass a medical.

He’s set to join up with former Pittodrie pal Michael Hart who moved south to join Alan Irvine’s team in January.

Nicholson has always wanted a crack at English football after more than a decade in the Scottish game.

And he was set to be paraded by Preston after putting pen to paper on a contract.

Nicholson had also been linked with moves to Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest but always had his heart said on moving to Deepdale

Preston boss Irvine today revealed he’s pleased to finally land his man after a long chase.

“I'm delighted,” said Irvine.

“Barry made it very clear from the start that despite all the interest he wanted to sign for Preston which was always a good sign.

“I'm happy to have a player who desperately wants to play for us.”

Nicholson, who started his career with Rangers, had been linked with a move to Deepdale for several months.

The 29-year-old will join on a Bosman free transfer after making more than 100 appearances for the Pittodrie club, before rejecting a new deal.

Irvine added: “We wanted to get some new faces in before pre-season started and we've done that.

“There's still plenty of time before the season starts to get more in but Barry Nicholson is a good player to start our summer recruitment.”

Nicholson left Pittodrie along with Richie Byrne, Dan Smith, Steve Lovell, Greg Kelly and Derek Soutar.

There’s also interest from down south in Byrne who is being courted by Leyton Orient and Brighton.

Soutar is also hoping to find a new club soon after seeing a move to Morecambe collapse.

Smith is also wanted by several lower league English clubs but is keen on a move to Irish side St Patrick’s where he would team up with another ex-Don Gary Dempsey.

Kelly has signed a short term deal with St Johnstone as veteran keeper Alan Main looks set to miss the start of the season with the Perth club following shoulder surgery.

Bournemouth are keen on a move for Lovell although his future remains unclear.