Ferguson banned following referee rant

Preston boss Darren Ferguson has been handed a three-match touchline ban by the Football Association after he admitted a charge of improper conduct.

Ferguson was hit with a charge of improper conduct aggravated by insulting and/or abusive language and behaviour following his conduct towards referee Kevin Friend in the tunnel after Preston's 4-3 defeat at Burnley last weekend.

Ferguson was also fined £4,000 over the incident at today's Regulatory Commission hearing.

Ferguson said to the media after Tuesday's defeat to Nottingham Forest: "I have apologised to the FA and also to the referee. I'm only 38, I'm still learning myself, and I lost my temper. I know I was out of order."

The ban will begin this weekend when Preston host Norwich at Deepdale on Saturday aiming to kickstart their npower Championship campaign after five defeats in six games so far.