NEIL SAYS TRAINING GROUND UPGRADE IS VITAL...
PRESTON boss Alex Neil thinks improving the club’s training ground will boost their chances of securing promotion to the Premier League.
The development of North End’s proposed new training facility at the former Ingol Golf Club has stalled.
The club submitted a two-part plan to gain approval for the new facilities in 2017, but needed profit from the development of some 450 homes in order to finance the development.
“Well, we’ve discussed it at length for a long time,” Neil, 38, said. “It’s really important that we get it started, but I’m what, two and a half years in now?
“I think we’ve had plans, and plans, and other plans. For the club to move forward, we need to try and upgrade the training ground and it’s as simple as that.”
Preston are now looking to develop their current Springfields training ground while they wait for the green light on their new facility.
Preston’s first training pitch has been upgraded at Springfields and Neil thinks this is just the first step needed.
He said: “We’ve done the first pitch which has been a massive help for us, because when it’s rained it’s allowed us to still get a quality session in.
“Whereas pitches two and three are under water really so it would be really difficult – for instance, if we hadn’t got that pitch done, we wouldn’t be able to train properly.
“For a team challenging at the top end of the Championship, it’s fundamental that you’ve got the facilities needed to keep trying to improve.”
Preston said in a statement: “Our strategic objective for the site at Ingol is unchanged. However, the short-term need to give our players the right facilities has led us to consider an interim solution that is cost effective.
“We will be submitting a planning application to enhance our existing firstteam training facilities.”