Preston will finally have a new kit in the coming days, bringing an end to a rather frustrating saga for North End.
For fans, the summer largely revolves around potential new signings.
For players, it’s all about pre-season training and getting physically ready for the new campaign.
The announcement of a new kit isn’t all that important comparatively, but it’s still another key date in the pre-season calendar.
Fans love to know which kits will be on show in the new season and they can usually drive revenue in the summer months for die-hard supporters or kids seeking birthday presents.
Most of the teams up and down the country have their kits ready to go and have been playing in them during pre-season games.
Yet in the case of Preston, the new kits for the 2022-23 season still haven’t been released with the new season just a couple of weeks away.
Preston have been playing pre-season games in last season’s away kit and new signings haven’t been able to be presented in the new strip.
This has been a source of frustration for many fans but the situation is nearing a resolution – in two senses.
Firstly, Preston have confirmed that new away kit will be launched this week ahead of facing Accrington Stanley over the weekend.
The home kit will then come next week, with the third kit coming later in July.
Preston’s statement admitted ‘frustrating delays’ with the arrival of the new kit, which is supplied by the Just Sport Group.
That deal means Preston wear Nike teamwear strips through the partnership with Just Sport, which haven’t always gone down well in terms of design or quality.
Numerous supporters noted last season that their shirts were showing damage within weeks of purchase, which is never ideal for the club or suppliers.
Peter Ridsdale confirmed in 2020 that Just Sport not only supplied the kits and other merchandise but ran the club shop and took on employment costs too.
That was an effective way for Preston to manage costs in terms of merchandise and Just Sport are a prominent brand given their relationship with many other EFL clubs.
Yet this partnership could soon be coming to an end based on Ridsdale’s latest comments to the Preston Supporters Collective.
Ridsdale not only confirmed that supply issues were preventing Preston from announcing a new kit, but added that discussions over a future kit supplier were ‘coming to a conclusion’ with an announcement not far away.
This situation has been frustrating for fans and the club itself, and Preston would be hoping to avoid similar issues if they do move to a new supplier for the 2023-24 season.
We have reached out to Just Sport for comment about the situation and the future of the partnership with North End.