Ridsdale joins as Preston chairman

Preston North End have appointed Peter Ridsdale as their new chairman.

The 59-year-old, formerly with Leeds, Barnsley, Cardiff and Plymouth, replaces the outgoing Maurice Lindsay, who stood down as chairman last week for health reasons.

"I am delighted and privileged to be joining Preston North End," he said. "It's a club that frankly ought to be competing to join the Premier League rather than playing in League One."

Ridsdale added that Preston, who lie 14th in League One, were a club with "an incredible football heritage" and hoped they "return to the Championship as a minimum in the not too distant future".