Preston North End have confirmed the exit of midfielders Daniel Johnson and Josh Onomah with their contracts coming to an end.
This is the news many North End fans have been expecting for weeks now.
Johnson provided a real spark for PNE towards the end of the season but he is now on his way out.
PNE confirmed in May that new terms had been offered to Johnson but the playmaker has decided to try something new.
Johnson joined PNE for just £50,000 in January 2015 and has gone on to make nearly 350 appearances across all competitions.
Surely one of the greatest bargains in North End history, Johnson has been a fixture of the PNE side for eight-and-a-half years but the time has come for Johnson to move on.
Where Johnson goes next is unclear.
The Stoke Sentinel reported in May that Johnson is wanted by Stoke as well as clubs in France and Belgium.
A move to Stoke would see Johnson reunite with his former PNE boss Alex Neil, so we could certainly see that happening.
Then we come to Onomah.
The midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Fulham in January, penning a short-term deal on deadline day.
PNE fans feared that Onomah would use that spell to get himself fit and move on to another club.
Well, here we are; Onomah managed four starts and 437 of Championship action but is now leaving PNE.
North End fans will be cynical about Onomah’s time at North End and his next move will be very interesting.
Ryan Lowe is quoted as saying that there were ‘complications’ in trying to keep Onomah and PNE have decided to move on.
That’s the key now – PNE must get replacements in and quickly.
North End returned for pre-season training with a threadbare squad and the first friendly against Bamber Bridge is just days away.
Johnson and Onomah were two of very few players in the PNE squad with a bit of creativity and guile around the final third.
Losing both leaves PNE’s midfield options looking pretty lacking in terms of a creative spark with Ben Whiteman, Ryan Ledson, Ali McCann, Alan Browne and Ben Woodburn the only remaining options.
North End’s squad was already desperately short of both quality and numbers, and losing both Johnson and Onomah only exacerbates the problem as PNE seek signings.