PNE have vowed to keep tracking Steve Basham despite his decision to ditch Deepdale after three months in Preston.

By saying no to a contract at Deepdale the 21-year-old has missed out on a possible Wembley appearance, but Basham insists it is nothing personal.

The up-and-coming striker seems to have his head screwed on, keeping his options open in the knowledge he is out of contract at the end of the season.

He said: "I am out of contract at the end of the summer. I don't know what will happen at the end of the season at Southampton.

"I have left my agent to sort things out. He is the one who knows who has been watching me. I have concentrated on the football."

Basham had been struggling to break through from the Southampton reserves before Moyes began to track him.

His 10 goals have helped North End maintain their position near to the top of the table. They have also put him in the shop window for prospective buyers across the country.

And North End aren't going to give up.

David Moyes said: "We will be keeping tabs on him during the summer.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.