Healy rejects new PNE deal

David Healy has rocked Preston by rejecting their latest contract offer.

The Northern Ireland international has hinted that he wants to test his mettle at a higher level, and may have decided his future lies away from Deepdale.

North End paid a club record £1.5 million for the striker after impressing on a loan spell from Manchester United and were keen to hang on to the forward after Ricardo Fuller left for Portsmouth earlier this year.

"The club offered David a three-year extension to his contract on fantastic money before I took charge, but it appears he has options elsewhere," manager Billy Davies told the club's official website.

"There is only so much you can do to try and persuade a player to stay at the club.

"Our first priority was to get David Healy to stay at Preston North End, but he feels that he wants to wait and see what is happening and that is disappointing.

"I am still hopeful and not totally resigned to losing David just yet."

Meanwhile, young midfielder Warren Beattie and goalkeeping coach Pete Williams have both gone under the knife to treat knee and shoulder problems respectively.