Deal 'agreed' by Preston North End man as Peter Ridsdale explains future plan

Preston North End striker Ched Evans has agreed to sign a player-coach deal with the club, says director Peter Ridsdale.

The Lilywhites made an offer to the 35-year-old, following the end to the season. His deal was set to expire this summer, having made 17 appearances last campaign. In total, the centre-forward has played 92 games for PNE and scored 16 goals. Last summer, his career and health was put in serious jeopardy - due to a medical condition relating to his neck and spine.

Evans was not expected to return to the football pitch, but his surgery was successful and he played his first game back in October. The striker didn’t score last season and saw game time limited, with a couple of injuries cropping up too. But, his stay at the club looks set to continue, with the plan for Evans to be phased into the coaching team.

"He hasn't physically signed it, but he has verbally agreed it,” Ridsdale told BBC Lancashire. “That wasn't the first time we've had the conversation with him - we've been talking to Ched for some months, about what he does after being a natural, first choice part of the playing squad. He has always wanted to do a coaching role and he's done his badges.

“We have said to him that we see him as part and parcel of coaching, going forward. We always like to have a bridge between the dressing room and coaching staff. I saw him yesterday and he agreed verbally, to the terms. I just need to put that down in writing and he needs to sign it. But, there's nothing I would expect to get in the way of him signing it."