NORTH End have signed striker Danny Dichio from Millwall.

The transfer was completed on Thursday and Preston will pay £160,000 for the 30-year-old.

It looked at one stage this week as if the deal had fallen through after Dichio had a medical and agreed personal terms on a two-year deal at Deepdale on Monday only for Millwall to tell them the deal was off.

Then Millwall contacted North End chairman Derek Shaw and told him the deal was off.

By Thursday, though, the deal was sorted.

Dichio said: "I wanted my next move to be to a club that was going places - one going for the play-offs and obviously aiming for the Premiership.

"I have been promoted there twice and I want to have that feeling again.

Dichio moved to Millwall from Derby County in February 2004, and has scored 12 goals in league competitions since the switch from Pride Park.

Should Dichio not come, it would be the second player in a week North End have missed out on.

Along with Burnley, they were said to be in for Leicester's James Scowcroft.

But he has opted to move to Coventry City instead. However, following the signing of David Hibbert, North End have brought in young winger Joe Anyisah.

The 20-year-old signed a three-year deal from Bristol City last week, leaving Aston Gate for an undisclosed fee.

Meanwhile, North End have ridiculed media speculation over keeper Andrew Lonergan's future.

The 22-year-old is being chased by Manchester United, apparently.

But North End have described the story as 'bizarre' and insisted Lonergan, only just back in light training for the first time in seven months following a knee injury, isn't going anywhere.

Former keeper Jonathan Gould, who left the club by mutual consent last season after a bust-up with management, is moving on once again, however.

The ex-Scottish international, who at one point said he felt Preston was too far away from his family's west country base, has signed for a team in New Zealand.

o Pre-season friendlies get going this weekend. Preston split their squad on Saturday for simultaneous games at Bamber Bridge and Chorley, before heading out on a tour of Italy next week.

While there, they will play Austrian side Swarovski before tackling Udinese. Back in England, they will play at Accrington Stanley and at Lancaster City on July 19.

They complete their travels at Bury on Saturday, July 23. Home games against Wigan on July 27 and Malaga on July 30 follow.