Leeds Offer Too Much For Preston

Last updated : 23 June 2005 By Kevin Markey
North End chairman Derek Shaw said: "The whole package offered by Leeds was just a little bit too much for us to match. It is disappointing to lose a player of Eddie's quality. But we will move on and bring someone else in."

Preston tried everything to keep the player, but in the end they were unable to compete on the cash front. "Eddie contacted Billy (Davies) yesterday and told him it was looking like he would be signing for Leeds," revealed Shaw. "I then spoke to his agent Paul Stretford and he confirmed they were hoping to finalise things at Elland Road.

"It is frustrating, but the saga has gone on for about seven months now and, to be honest, it is what we expected would happen. We wish Eddie well. He has clearly been offered a very good deal by Leeds and it is one we could not equal.

"We would probably have done three years. But the salary on offer at Leeds was out of our reach. Eddie is 32 next birthday, he is an international footballer and he therefore warrants a big salary. Sadly it was too much for us."

In three seasons with North End he made 124 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals.