Former North End skipper hails early recruitment
Ian Bryson, Graeme Atkinson, Martin Atherton and John Roper joined BBC Radio Lancashire to relive their 1996 Division Three triumph
- Published
Former Preston North End captain Ian Bryson says he's impressed by the club's early recruitment this summer, which has seen five new players added to Paul Heckingbottom's squad.
The club have signed goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, defenders Pol Valentin and Thierry Small and midfielder Jordan Thompson while most recently striker Daniel Jebbison agreed a season-long loan from Bournemouth.
Bryson, who captained North End to the Division Three title in 1996, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I think it's really, really good. It's unusual for Preston - we tend not to, in recent years, get players in until the windows going on and pre-season is well under way.
"I believe that Paul gave [the recruitment team] a list saying 'I want those players, go and get them' and it looks like that's happened.
"To get five in is really good. It's about getting that squad together. My biggest thing in the whole of football is team spirit – end of story.
"If you've got a team of 20 lads out there that want to fight and work for each other, you can be successful. So to get these players in now, get them involved with the rest of the squad early enough, it creates that camaraderie that gives you a chance."