Declan Rudd was forced to retire last week but is predicting big things for Preston under the tutelage of boss Ryan Lowe.
After battling with injury for over a year, Rudd decided to call it a day last week, retiring at the age of just 31.
Goalkeepers can usually go for a another five or ten years, meaning Rudd’s career has really been cut short.
With nearly 200 appearances for Preston across three spells, Rudd enjoyed a great connection with Preston over the years.
Rudd’s last appearance for Preston came against Liverpool back in October, so fans were given a chance to give him a quality send-off on Tuesday.
Rudd was paraded to Preston fans before kick off against Blackpool as North End claimed a huge 1-0 win over their bitter rivals.
The former North End stopper will have loved seeing such a big win; after all, one of his greatest moments in a Preston shirt came in the 2013 win over Blackpool.
Rudd was interviewed by Sky Sports on the pitch before the game and offered his thoughts on the club’s future.
Fans are still so desperate to get to the Premier League but it always feels unlikely given North End’s financial situation.
With Chris Kirchner’s takeover now off, it’s unclear just how Preston will fund Ryan Lowe’s squad overhaul this summer.
Still, Rudd is excited for the future and suggested that Preston have everything they need to get to the Premier League, they just need to give it a real go.
Rudd added that he thinks Lowe will push Preston to the next level due to his coaching style and tactical approach, predicting big things for North End.
“It’s got the foundations, it’s got the supporters, it’s got everything it needs – it just needs to crack on. With Ryan Lowe taking over, I really think he will push the club to the next level with his coaching style and the way he wants to play,” said Rudd.