Preston chairman Maurice Lindsay says his club has turned down "lots of money" from Town for central defender Sean St Ledger. The Lilywhites are understood to want £2.5 million for the Republic of Ireland international, who was first linked with a move to Portman Road last week.

Lindsay says bids for St Ledger, Billy Jones and Andy Lonergan have all been rebuffed: “We have turned down a £500,000 offer from Bristol City for Billy Jones and we have turned down lots of money for Sean St Ledger from Ipswich Town.

"Andy Lonergan was coveted by Cardiff City but they didn't value him very highly - they didn’t have the confidence to ring us up, we got a fax from them. Even so, we probably wouldn't have sold him.

"We need to stabilise. The project this year as I have always said in the programme notes is to stabilise and remain in the Championship.

"When I arrived, we started on a very low point financially, very low point with squad quality, it has been changed around considerably. There is a good spirit at the training ground, so let's strengthen now, forget the sales and, if anything, recruit.”

Town could decide to go back to North End with a further bid either before today's 11pm deadline or on loan with a view to a future permanent deal once the 'emergency' loan window opens next week.

Photo: Action Images

StowTractorBoy added 11:08 - Jan 31 Thank heavens for that
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bluelady added 11:08 - Jan 31 Clegg just use the money to keep big Mac and Delaney please!
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blueherts added 11:11 - Jan 31 Wow Billy Jones - I remember him at Crewe - good young player - he is a RB ?? He would have been worth a punt -
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BlooooCD added 11:13 - Jan 31 Use the money to keep chuck and mac!!! Am I missing something why we are not doing this piece of business instead?
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BlueGoonie added 11:15 - Jan 31 Good, don't rate this lad at all, his career has gone downhill rapidly over last few seasons. End of season loan only if we do get him, that gives us a chance to see if he can recapture his best form without shelling out £2m for him. Much rather look to pluck an up and coming star central defender from lower leagues, talented and hungry and without extortionate wages.

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Golaboots added 11:18 - Jan 31 I can't remember many championship defenders going for anything like £2m, not unless they're 19 and playing head and shoulders above everyone else.
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meekreech added 11:22 - Jan 31 Use the money to sign Mac & Chuck and hopefully a STRIKER !!!!!!
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blueherts added 11:25 - Jan 31 Right Back - teams all know that is our weak point and exploit it - need a proper RB - Edwards and Peters have done ok - But we need a specialist there
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Worcester added 11:30 - Jan 31 Agreed blue lady we need to hang on to these two.
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devontractorboy added 11:36 - Jan 31 You can't use the money WW to pay Chuck & Big Mac more, the club obviously has a wages structure & after nearly two years of an unhappy dressing room under Keane, would just cause more unrest. I think we have a team of players to build on now over the next few years, but we need to remain solvent to be able to do so!
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corshamblue added 11:36 - Jan 31 Not sure we offered anything like 2.5m, that's what Preston want! Not sure we'd agree wages either, he's reputed to be on a few quid and a decent contract at Preston. We'll see, COYB
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clive_baker added 11:44 - Jan 31 I'm sure it's not a case of 'chucking money at Norris and Macauley'. It's quite clear they both want out. If they dont want to commit flog them to the highest bidder today i say. Smith and Bullard can step in and we can have another look in the summer. No players are bigger than this club, get them out our season is over anyway.
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Worcester added 11:45 - Jan 31 come along devon blue we should be a long way from insolvency! Our wage structure has to be stuck to yes I agree, however it has to be competitive also. Gone are the days when players will rock uop take one look at the facilities and sign starry eyed
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Garv added 11:53 - Jan 31 You fear the two main lads are on their way.
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Keaneish added 11:55 - Jan 31 ...and wait until the end of the season and sell him on for a cut price fee after you've been relegated! Oh dear Preston...
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StowTractorBoy added 12:00 - Jan 31 Sky now saying Delaney subject of bid from Burnley
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shropshiretractor added 12:03 - Jan 31 Ahhhh, remember when we sold Bramble for £6million.....those days are long gone!
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ThatMuhrenCross added 12:03 - Jan 31 He seems a waste of money to me at anything more than £1.5m. However we do need to be looking for a really good defender who is no more than 25. Someone who would be able to replace McAuley if needs be. A player like Krystian Pearce at Notts County.
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bluelady added 12:11 - Jan 31 stowtractorboy - where? nothing on website?
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warkysmoustache added 12:12 - Jan 31 I remember watching a fly-on-the-wall documentary a few years back when he was at Posh - Barry Fry was hacked off with him, seemed like a bit of a **** best out of it I reckon! Need unity in the squad not trouble makers
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casanovacrow added 12:20 - Jan 31 He'll be cheaper once Preston get relegated
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kerryblue added 12:21 - Jan 31 Even if they did accept the bid for him ,Clegg would just make a total mess of getting him to sign ,like he always does.
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corshamblue added 12:31 - Jan 31 Whilst I want Macca to sign more than any player, if a revised offer is in and he still will not sign, I don't understand why we're not looking to sell him before he's available on a Free in a few months. Needs must I guess? This has had the ar** kicked out of it, but we're missing something here. I hope the truth comes out sooner or later. Maybe we'll do more business in the 'Emergency' loan period next week when it opens?

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hucks216 added 12:32 - Jan 31 Preston have turned down 3 bids for him which would point to the player having the upperhand in any negotiations as he can just wait to see who offers him the most money if more than one of those bids are accepted, and Town shouldn't be drawn into another player auction just like the Austin saga.
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denhamblue added 12:34 - Jan 31 well well theres a surprise.
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