Although it had been expected for some time, the announcement on Tuesday that Daniel Johnson would be leaving at the end of his contract was hard to take.
The Jamaican international has been the heartbeat of this club for many of the eight-and-a-half-years that he has spent at Deepdale. The 30-year-old helped take us up from League One, and oozed class on so many memorable occasions, particularly with some stellar derby day performances.
There’s no doubt he will impress at his next club, and if it is with Alex Neil at Stoke City as expected, then it’ll be a very strange day when we see him on the opposition team.
His £50,000 transfer fee will live long in the memory as an absolute bargain. 50 thousand pounds, for eight-and-a-half-years service to the club. For 336 games. For 57 goals. For a captain, a leader, and someone who is now 25th on the all time appearances list.
The 50 grand song reverberated around Deepdale and many other grounds up and down the country on countless occasions. You’d struggle to sign someone of Daniel Johnson’s class for even £1m these days if you were having to pay a transfer fee.
Of course transfer fees are very inflated these days, but they were in 2015 as well. It’s incredible that Aston Villa were willing to part company for a low fee with a then 22-year-old who had started showing promise at League One level. The recent passing of Craig Brown brought back memories of other great signings such as Ricardo Fuller, Youl Mawene, and Brian O’Neil. But none came near to DJ’s length of service, and for a player to be so instrumental to a side for so long, means he will be hugely missed.
His quality may only be truly realised now that he has gone. His creativity and attacking threat leaves a huge void in an already depleted Preston squad. It’s a shame he didn’t get any type of farewell game, with DJ not featuring in the last game of the season at home to Sunderland.
The addition of Johnson and Jermaine Beckford to that League One side helped get us over the line in 2015. His long-time midfield partner Alan Browne now remains the only member of that play-off winning side to still be at the club, with Paul Gallagher also on the coaching staff for now.
There was no doubt DJ would make the step up to the Championship. He now moves on perhaps with the hope he can find a club better equipped at giving him that elusive spell in the Premier League. He deserves a proper shot at the top flight.
He may have had a chance to leave in the past. Steven Gerrard was certainly keen to bring him to Rangers a few years ago, where DJ would have had the chance to play in Europe. Rangers reached the Europa League final a year later.
The 30-year-old’s persona on the pitch was nonchalant but effervescent at the right moments. Johnson was great at slipping through balls into the attackers. He was quality in tight situations, and scored many superb curling shots with that left foot.
His penalty record was also up there with the very best. He would often stare out the opposition goalkeeper before his delayed run-up. He would also relish a game against Birmingham City having spent a lot of his youth career with their arch rivals Villa.
Watching a Preston side without DJ will be very strange. It seems the side is lacking characters like him now. Players who have been here for a sustained amount of time, and can really resonate with the fans and the club.
I can’t see the club finding an able replacement for him this summer. I certainly don’t think Preston North End will ever be able to sign someone for 50 grand, and enjoy watching them ‘play the Preston’ way for eight years just as DJ did.