GREGAN SIGNS NEW PRESTON DEAL

The former Darlington ace was an instrumental figure in leading the side to the verge of The Premiership last season only to lose the play-off final to Bolton Wanderers.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who had one-year left on his present contract, has agreed a deal which will keep him at Deepdale until 2005.

The burly midfielder, who has made over 350 appearances for PNE, had been linked with a move to Everton, but the player admitted he was delighted to have sorted out his future.

"I am to get it all sorted and commit myself to the club," Gregan told the club's official website

"I had a year left on my contract and I could have waited it out to see what happened, but I'm settled here, I'm happy here and I've got a good relationship with the fans so I decided to commit myself."

Gregan, who captained the side to the Second Division title in 1999 believes that he can achieve success at the club under manager David Moyes.

"When I first arrived we were bottom of the Second Division but we've had a lot of success since then so hopefully we can move on to bigger and better things again," said Gregan.

"It obviously helped that the manager has just signed. I think that was an influence on me. Obviously if he'd moved on I'd have had to have thought about my future but he's committed himself and I've committed myself.

"We had success last year; it was a very enjoyable year and I'm just looking forward to next season now I've got everything sorted out."