Preston North End boss Alex Neil can't wait for transfer window to end

ALSO READ: "Never say never" - Preston North End boss Alex Neil coy on transfers ahead of window closingClubs in the Football League have until this afternoon to do deals as they shape their squads for the season ahead.

Neil was coy when asked about the possibility of incomings at Deepdale but the Lilywhites are still looking to move some fringe players out before the deadline.

While the window for permanent transfers shut on August 9 clubs in the Championship and beyond have in theory been in a ‘loan window’ although many are bringing in players with a future fee already agreed.

“We’ll just need to wait and see what happens,” said Neil.

“Transfer windows, to be honest, are the bane of my life. They really are. I see myself as the coach first and foremost.

"Getting deals done and all this sort of garbage just really irritates the life out of me.

“I’d just rather they said, ‘There are your players, go and coach them and get them ready’.

“That’s my brutal, honest opinion.”

In terms of the deals already done Neil believes he has a much deeper squad at his disposal this season.

Lukas Nmecha, Brandon Barker, Graham Burke, Ryan Ledson, Andrew Hughes, Jordan Storey and Michael Crowe have all arrived at Deepdale in this window.

“If you look at the starting XI we’re not much different from last year,” said Neil.

“But last year I think it cost us when we went through a spell of really bad injuries in specific positions and the guys coming in weren’t filling the roles as well as the guys that were missing.

“We’re in a far, far stronger position in that sense.”

That was on show as seven changes were made for the 2-0 win at Leeds on Tuesday night.

Neil has plenty to think about ahead of Bolton’s trip to Deepdale on Saturday with his side prevailing at Elland Road with 10 men after Ledson’s red card.

“The choices for the game will be a difficult,” said the PNE boss. “We just need to take into account who is going to be fresh and who is going to be ready and that we’re playing Bolton and not Leeds.

“My players always cover plenty of ground but when you go down to 10 men you need to do that little bit extra.

“A lot of the younger lads showed a side to them we hoped they had and that was really pleasing.”