Brown issues warning to players

He has waved his squad away on their summer break, but warned them not to go over the top as they unwind.

Any player who comes back larger than when they went away can expect punishing pre-season training sessions in addition to the ones he is planning for the team as a whole.

Players have a fortnight to ease themselves back before personal training schedules begin to start up ahead of their return to the training ground.

And Brown will be keeping one eye on the treatment room throughout the summer break as the list of players going under the knife grows.

Star striker Richard Cresswell is to have a double-hernia operation within the next two weeks, just before he gets married.

Keeper David Lucas could an operation on his shoulder, which caused him problems through the latter part of the year. Any op would rule him out until September.

Young winger John Bailey has also been signed up for a hernia operation after seeing a specialist.

And two players have already gone under the surgeon's knife - young keeper Andrew Lonergan and midfielder Brian O'Neil, both to do with knee cartilage.

As for new faces appearing at Deepdale over the summer, Brown is urging fans not to hold their breath.

He reckons he will need to trim six players from his large-ish squad if he is bring any new faces in.

Brown said: "This is a self-imposed transfer embargo by me. I can't bring anyone in unless I especially need them.

"It will have to be a really special player who adds something new to the team. I have my eye on one player, but he is only really a duplication of what we already have."

One player already out of the door in Colin Murdock. The Northern Irish international turned down a contract offered earlier in the last season but turned it down.

And Tepi Moilanen, out of favour at North End and on loan at Hearts, has asked to be set free for good after impressing North of the border.