Jamie Jones has revealed that the shared goals of both Preston North End and himself were key factors in his decision to return north.
The 25-year-old shot stopper has agreed to put pen to paper on a two year deal at Deepdale, effective from 1st July, in the process turning down an offer to remain at Leyton Orient.
And Jones believes that moving forward together; both parties can achieve their shared goal of heading to the Championship.
In an exclusive interview with PNE.Com, Jones said: “It feels great to be signing, a Club like Preston is where I want to be at this part of my career and it is where I want to try and push myself to be in the next division and Preston’s goals are exactly the same as mine.
“The potential of Preston is high, it shows in the way the Club is run, it is a very big Club with a lot of history and that is another thing about it, there is so much history and it doesn’t deserve to be in League One and I am coming here to help get them out of that situation.
“Goalkeepers don’t peak now until they are in their 30s, so hopefully I have got a long and successful career ahead of me and it starts this season with Preston North End.”
Jones has fond memories when reflecting on playing against the current crop of North End players and the Liverpudlian can’t wait to get started with his new teammates, goalkeeping coach and with featuring regularly at Deepdale.
“Deepdale is brilliant,” he continued.
“I had a successful game there a couple of seasons ago when we drew 0-0 which was a great result at the time and I had a great game and the fans were behind Preston all the time, cheering them on, so I can’t wait to be playing there every other week, to get them fans behind us and help us push up that table and get promoted to the Championship.
“I can only learn from the input of someone like Alan Kelly.
“I can’t wait to get started with him and it will be a great pleasure working with someone who has had that much experience and hopefully he can pass some of that on to me and help me to improve my game and keep improving.
“Preston were always up there at the top end of the division last season and that doesn’t happen by mistake.
“It was always a tough game going to Deepdale and it was even tougher playing Preston at my home at the time.
“They appear to be a great group of lads from what I have seen and I can’t wait to get started now.”
Since leaving the Everton Academy, Jones has only ever known one Club and that is Leyton Orient.
But he feels he will be moving to a Club were just competing in League One is not deemed a success.
“It has been a good six years at Leyton Orient but it is the right time to move,” added Jones.
“We had a great year this season, but we didn’t get over that line by getting promoted.
“I think moving club’s now to one like Preston; where staying in League One is an unsuccessful season, it is just where I want to be because my drive is much higher than that.”
Jones’ first job as a PNE custodian could be to keep English footballing giants Liverpool at bay, but that task does not faze the boyhood Toffee who is relishing the prospect.
“You can’t get better than that in regards of home debuts against one of the biggest sides in the world,” stated the Kirkby born stopper.
“I am a blue and support Everton, but most of my family are Liverpool fans, so it will be a great day for us all and we can only show what we have got for the season ahead.”