Former Preston North End defender Scott Laird wants return to Deepdale one day...as MANAGER!

The left-back was very much a fans’ favourite during his three-year spell at theLilywhites from 2012 to 2015.

A badly broken leg hindered his progress during his first year as a North Ender, but he recovered to play an integral role in the club’s rise back to the Championship.

In two seasons working under Simon Grayson, Laird featured in more than 80 games as the club enjoyed two League One play-off campaigns, eventually sealing promotion by beating Swindon Town 4-0 at Wembley in May 2015.

Now aged 32, Taunton-born Laird still has plenty of years left in front of him as a player, but he has already started to make plans for a future role in the game.

Last summer he accepted a role to become the assistant player-manager of Southern Premier League outfit Weston-super-Mare, working alongside manager Scott Bartlett.

While the club maybe low down in the football pyramid, Laird sees his new role as a great opportunity to gain experience which could provide the springboard for a future career as a manager, as well as helping the Seagulls back in to the National League.

“I am the player assistant manager of Weston-super-Mare,” said Laird, who arrived at Preston from Stevenage and went on to enjoy spells at Scunthorpe, Walsall and Forest Green Rovers.

“The club used to be in the National League South for many years before getting relegated the season before last.

“They want to do a rebuilding job and with it being local to me, I thought it was a great opportunity to start the next chapter of my football career.

“I made the decision that I wanted to go into coaching quite early in my career.

“I loved going into training as a player and loved dissecting all the sessions the coaches and managers I worked under did.

“I have had a little book since very early on in my career where if I had enjoyed a session, I would go back home and write it down.

“It is something I really want to get into and I am enjoying my role as an assistant manager. Hopefully myself and Scott can form a good management team and take the club back up the ladder.

“He’s very knowledgeable about the management side of things, the ins and outs of the football club, contracts, signing players and he’s also a great coach.

“So it’s been great learning from him this past year.

“I want to progress as a coach and then become a manager myself. Who knows, maybe one day I will come back to Preston as a manager – that would be nice.”