The transfer window ended on Thursday, and Preston failed to add the goalkeeper Alex Neil seemingly wanted.
North End missed out on Manchester City talent Aro Muric, losing him to Nottingham Forest. That means that Declan Rudd remains first choice, with Connor Ripley backing him up.
However, Preston are at least trying other ways to improve their goalkeeping department. On Sunday, North End confirmed that they have appointed Jonathan Gould as a goalkeeping coach, handing him a return to Deepdale.
Gould, 51, joined Preston as a player back in 2003. He had been a Celtic hero, and followed his former Scotland boss Craig Brown to North End. Gould was a regular between the sticks at North End, becoming a fan favourite in the process.
Since ending his playing career in 2009, Gould has turned his hand to coaching. His most recent roles came with West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough, working on Tony Pulis’s staff with both clubs.
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Gould left Boro in May of this year, following the sacking of Pulis. He hasn’t been out of the game long, and now returns to Preston in order to assist young coach Jack Cudworth with the club’s goalkeepers.
Gould’s input should be valuable, and he at least already has knowledge of Ripley from Middlesbrough. Another stopper who worked with Gould at Boro was Andy Lonergan, who also played alongside the Scot at Preston.
After North End announced the move, Lonergan took to Twitter to brand Gould a ‘legend’, noting that he was a ‘top top bloke’ when they worked together at the Riverside Stadium last year.
Lonergan may be on the verge of a shock move to Liverpool, but he hasn’t forgotten about his hometown club, and his ringing endorsement of Gould suggests Alex Neil and co have made a fine move in bringing him back to the club.