Preston North End have appointed Mike Pollitt as goalkeeping coach to replace the departing Jonathan Gould.
Former PNE stopper Gould came into the club last season, but has decided to move back to New Zealand with his family, where he previously spent a spell soon after leaving Deepdale the first time back in 2005.
Manager Alex Neil and the club moved quickly to fill the vacancy, with former Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United custodian Pollitt set to join the club when the players return for training in mid-August.
Mike, who recently left Bolton Wanderers, is a Lancastrian by birth and has been in the professional game for over 30 years, having started at Manchester United, going on to make well over 500 career appearances at a host of clubs.
He spent ten years at Wigan, in the Premier League, before his retirement. He then joined the Latics’ coaching staff, before a move to another former club Rotherham United and then later arriving at boyhood club Bolton Wanderers.
He left the Trotters earlier this month, following the appointment of Ian Evatt at the University of Bolton Stadium, but will join PNE ready for the return to training.
Manager Alex Neil paid tribute to the departing Jonathan Gould, as well as welcoming the new member of staff, saying: "Jonathan and I had a lengthy discussion, he didn't want to leave, we didn't want him to leave but we understand the situation and it's obviously with a heavy heart that he leaves us. He has been a great servant while he was here, he certainly helped Declan, he was a great addition to the backroom team and we all wish him well.
"I think it was important that we got somebody in a similar vein to Jonathan, who has been about and worked with top goalkeepers. He has got that element of experience and hopefully he can be a steady influence on the 'keepers. I think he will be a great addition to us and hopefully going forward he can show what he's capable of."
Mike was delighted to become a part of the Lilywhites coaching set up, adding: "I am really looking forward to it, we just missed out on the Play-Offs this year so obviously that's the challenge next year and I'm really looking forward to that challenge.
"I'm obviously quite an experienced goalkeeper having played in the Premier League down to League Two so hopefully I can pass on my experience to them and hopefully help them.
"The club is established in the Championship now and pushing now for the Play-Offs so you can see the ambition of the football club and it's something that really attracted me towards it. I'm thoroughly looking forward to getting to work with the manager and the coaching staff and then obviously the goalkeepers and the rest of the players as well."