Former Blues keeper Richard Wright has left Preston North End with immediate effect within days of joining the League One Lilywhites. The 34-year-old, who was released by the Blues at the end of last season, says he’s been unable to settle in the North-West.

Wright, who joined up with the Lancastrian side for the first day of pre-season training on Wednesday having signed a one-year deal, said: "It might seem somewhat dramatic, but I have only been away from my home in East Anglia for a few days and I know already that I simply cannot live that far away from my family.

"I have children settled in school, so moving isn't an option. I think it is only fair to be honest now rather than down the line when the club may not be able to solve the problem that I am creating."

Preston manager Graham Westley added: "It takes a brave man to be honest in a difficult situation like this.

"Richard thought that he could handle the separations from his family, but he has found it too much. He is a good man and I wish him well on behalf of all at PNE."

Photo: Action Images

thebeat added 21:45 - Jul 6 real shame.if he'd stayed with us the first time he wud have been the best keeper in the country.the arsenal move ruined his career as far as im concerned.outstanding in our promotion season.i saw him make a one handed save at bristol city that i will never forget.hope things improve for u Wrighty
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DurhamTownFan added 21:47 - Jul 6 Wright was and remains perhaps my second favourite town player ever, behind Holland. We'll never forget his performance away to Blackburn in the FA cup... The way his career panned out just goes to show, if you're playing well and the team is doing good, maybe you might stay put (Robin van Persie, are you reading?) I'm also sad that Wrighty's career has gone downhill, but I do hope he put enough money away to look after himself. Wouldn't want him to end up trying to make ends meet by doing Radio Suffolk commentary!

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Blue041273 added 21:48 - Jul 6 Why do people think footballers are any different to anyone else in the workplace? It is NOT professional to take wages from an employer in a job where you are clearly unhappy and cannot do the job properly. Most people will not want to stay in a job where they are not happy. Footballers are no different; it's just that they can afford to walk away when they are not happy. Given that the career span of good goalies is longer than most other players and given also the speciality of pthe position, it follows that most experienced keepers (like RW) ought to find employment as a GK coach when they don't want to play any more. I don't think RW will be losing too much sleep over this decision. Good luck to him; he has the experience to be a good GK coach.

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jas0999 added 21:55 - Jul 6 Such a shame. But no time for sentiment. Richard WAS a good GK, but hasn't been for some time now. He's had his career and agree with those who say a coaching role is the way forward. However, that's not necessarily with us. What's critical now is for this club to move forward, starting with PJ signing a new No. 1. Now. This Summer has been poor transfer wise to date. PJ has to do much better.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 22:18 - Jul 6 h32 - i never thought i would say it, but i agree with you totally. Never fulfilled anywhere near his potential, moving to Arsenal was a huge mistake. However, deserves a lot more respect than shown by some on here, although in some cases it was to be expected.
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ArnieM added 22:19 - Jul 6 Cue a bench warming offer by a southern Club next week, on yet another sugstantial wages each week. Some "professional" footballers have become millionaires out of doing feck all tbh and RW is one of them!
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HARRY10 added 22:21 - Jul 6 Blimey, it didn't take him long to find the subs bench at Deepdale wasn't too comfortable
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Ipswichbusiness added 22:36 - Jul 6 I read in the papers that Brad Friedel is surplus to requirements under the new management at Spurs. I know that he's hardly young, but he has huge Premiership experience and may be cheap.
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Tillz9 added 22:40 - Jul 6 People on here calling him a joke need to look at themselves. He made a mistake and admitted it, haven't we all done this ? We spend all our time moaning that nobody cares about the club and slag off the ones that do. Yes he left us to early and his career hasn't panned out the way anyone expected. However I'm sure most of us would have loved the chance to play for Arsenal, doesn't come around often. Hope he moves onto a team like Colchester and has a successful few years. Always welcome back at Ipswich in some capacity as far as I'm concerned

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algarvefan added 22:54 - Jul 6 I'm on the verge of giving up on this site but refuse to hand it over to some of the w**kers who post on here. Call yourself Town fans, you're a disgrace!!! Richard Wright is a Town Legend and in fairness to him he has put his family first, can't have been an easy decision for him, but he was brave enough to be honest. Please have some respect for him for all the great performances he has made fr ITFC. I agree that he would make a good assistant to Malcolm Webster and a great No.2/3 to have on the books.

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Len_Brennan added 22:55 - Jul 6 Extraordinary turn of event: Dozzells_Bobblehat is agreeing with h32 and I am agreeing with jas. I still kind of link Wrighty's decision to leave us for Arsenal with the start of our slump. The whole Marshall & then Sereni debacle, with the defensive uncertainty & financial implications were a far greater factor than the Finidi George (who broke his face after one of the best displays ever in an Ipswich shirt to be fair) disappointment, in our relegation season. But I guess I have to get over all that sometime I suppose.

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harlingblue added 22:55 - Jul 6 Ipswich boy who did well, England keeper did beckon, outside of Ipswich I reckon, Oh well, Arsenal a signing and on his arse he was sat, Everton said I'll have some of that...What a waste Richard?
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sheepdags added 23:03 - Jul 6 Richard deserves more respect than some on here are giving him. This is a golden opportunity for us to sign up an experienced pro who is at least as good as anyone else we have available and when most others don't seem to want to move to Suffolk, a guy who loves our club and our area. Someone mentioned Friedel, still a terrific gk at 40 - shows that Richard's best years could still be ahead of him.

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ThatMuhrenCross added 23:04 - Jul 6 Definitely off to Colchester then.
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TractorBoy666 added 23:25 - Jul 6 Jas, your comments make me laugh everytime! Even though this has nothing to do with transfers with us, you have to mention it in your comment somewhere. We get that your always mad at Jewell, but just comment something DIFFERENT for once. Please?
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CobboldNeal added 23:32 - Jul 6 len_brennan Agree with you although there were other factors leading to our slump. But I totally agree that Finidi George display was on of best ever in an Ipswich shirt i have seen.
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Langdon_Blue added 23:42 - Jul 6 A top keeper for Town and by the sound of it a top Parent too. No wonder PNE admire your honesty. Well done Wrighty and all the best!!
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NastyPasty added 01:04 - Jul 7 Wrighty your Ipswich through n through... Get ya ass back here under Mr Websters wing n be on team sheet if needed. You know it makes sense. :-)
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Guthrum added 01:49 - Jul 7 Sorry it hasn't worked out for him at Preston. Hope he can find a suitable role closer to home, be it playing or coaching. Maybe, with the increase in staff numbers required for Cat 2 Academy status, there will be something for him at Ipswich, would certainly not be unhappy to see that. Youth goalkeeping coach?
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ArnieM added 07:38 - Jul 7 I find the references of Town legend and this blind fanatasim of Wrighty a tad OTT. I remember the fantastic "potential" he should with us before he left Arsenal. However this player since the day jhe left us jas always been prepared to settle for second best, by being a number 2 and sit on the benches at various Clubs taking a substantial wage. Some one suggested his game never quite fulfilled that potential- maybe that was a reflection of his willingness to sit and watch the game from the bench. When he returned to us I think he had played only 17 times in SEVEN, years! So sorry but RW maybe a legend to many on here : to me he is yet another player more interested in the money than actually playing. Good luck Richard, I'm sure you will soon find your next bench to warm very soon- I just hope its not ours.

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irishtim added 08:30 - Jul 7 Player coach wiyh us would be fine with me.
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WorcesterBlue added 08:34 - Jul 7 Top keeper in his day and a brave decision. However not the suction to our GK issues so hopefully we'll get someone in soon who is.
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alfromcol added 09:20 - Jul 7 THis goes to show why some players don't join IT, the pull of the families, especially wives, stop some players moving even if they would like to. Its not all about money and Clegg's failing to get them here
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:23 - Jul 7 Whilst not knocking him ,i think '' legend '' is a bit over the top.He will settle somewhere soon ,good luck to him .
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Wickets added 10:03 - Jul 7 Best of luck PLUG. Such a great keeper in his first spell.
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