Neil wants to shut up shop early

Preston manager Alex Neil is a fan of the transfer deadline being moved to coincide with the start of the season.
Daniel Johnson (left) and Callum Robinson (right) have been the subject of transfer speculationDaniel Johnson (left) and Callum Robinson (right) have been the subject of transfer speculation
Daniel Johnson (left) and Callum Robinson (right) have been the subject of transfer speculation

The Premier League and EFL are to discuss an earlier close to the window and there seems plenty of support for it to change from the current date at the end of August.

It is argued that the overlap between the season’s start and the deadline puts clubs at a disadvantage.

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This summer in particular, there have been high-profile cases of players pushing for a move rather than focusing on the football.

Closing the window before kick-off would avoid that kind of distraction.

The EFL season started a fortnight ago and the window still has another 11 days to go.

On the eve of the season, PNE received bids for Jordan Hugill and Callum Robinson from Birmingham and Derby respectively.

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This week, Cardiff had an offer for Greg Cunningham 
rejected by North End.

The distraction such bids have the potential to cause , is something an early closure of the window would stop.

Neil said: “I think it would be better for a manager if they could concentrate on getting the squad and team ready for the games once the season starts, rather than having to deal with situations where players’ heads have been turned by the promises of what money they could earn.

“As a manager, you want to focus on the football, get them training well and confident.

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“You don’t want to worry about what agents are putting in their heads about moves elsewhere.

“Whenever you put the deadline, the bottom line is you have to complete all your business by then.

“If it came forward, it just means doing the negotiating during the summer rather than trying to do it all during August, so I think that would help focus on football.

“There have been some high-profile ones recently where people aren’t even training with their club.

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“They have a sickness or an injury which has just crept up on them when they have been fine for three years.”

Neil was keen to stress that he has encountered no such problems within the North End squad, the players who had attracted interest having stayed focused.

“All the lads have been great,” said the Deepdale boss.

“I’m not referring to anyone here when talking about this, it is in general.”

Meanwhile, PNE are to run a series of shuttle buses on matchdays.

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Five new routes will run for today’s game against Reading, two from Leyland, one from Chorley, one from Lostock Hall and one from Preston Railway Station.

It is £3 for a single journey and £4 for a return.