Preston North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd has agreed a new three-year deal with the club, until at least the summer of 2023.
The Norwich-born stopper joined the club permanently in the summer of 2017, having had two previous loan spells at Deepdale, in the latter part of the 2012/13 season and for the whole of the 2013/14 campaign.
The Lilywhites’ No.1 has gone on to make 158 appearances, including being the only player to start all 37 league games in the current campaign and has been in excellent form in 2019/2020, earning the Lilywhites points on many occasions with some vital saves.
The custodian, 29, said that his decision to extend his stay with the club was ‘the perfect thing to do’: “It is something we have been talking about for quite a while. My wife and I both decided that I am happy at Preston North End and it is the perfect thing to do.
“As a goalkeeper you peak a bit later; I am 29 now and at this age you are just starting to become a mature goalkeeper. I have played over 250 games now at a variety of levels, made the mistakes, had good games and I feel it is more natural to me now and I don’t have to think about it too much and that is important. This season has been a good one for me and in the next three years, hopefully I can keep going.
“Also, to be in the situation like we are, to keep running as normal, is credit to the owner and what he has done. This was a huge reason for me for wanting to stay at the club, because it is run properly and that is important.”
Manager Alex Neil, who also worked with Rudd whilst manager of Norwich City was pleased to see another player commit to the club’s future, he said: “I know Declan better than anybody; for the years I have been down here [in England] I have worked with Declan for the bulk of them, probably four years or more now and what I have seen of him of late, has been a real maturity, both as a person as well as a player and that has certainly helped him. His consistency levels have been very good this season.
“I would see Declan’s next few years as his prime and if he can continue the form he has been in and continue to improve, then that will bode well for him and for us.”