KURT NOGAN ended his two year Turf Moor career today and admitted: "I hope Burnley get promoted."

Nogan joined red rose rivals Preston North End in a cut-price £175,000 deal earlier today, writes TONY DEWHURST

And he said: "The last few months have proved very difficult for me and my family and, to be honest, I'm glad of the fresh start with Preston.

"But no matter what anybody has said, Burnley will always have a special place in my heart.

"Even when things weren't going well the supporters were always fair to me and I'll always respect them no matter what happens in my career. I can't speak too highly about the fans at Burnley.

"I hope the lads go on to get promotion to Division One because that is what those fantastic supporters deserve.

"I just want to thank them for the support they gave me and I hope they will understand that I've had to make the move.

"Playing in the reserve team was no good to me and I had no future. I need first team football and that is what Preston have offered me.

"I suppose I could have waited until the end of the season and let my contract run out but Preston have made me a good offer.

"They may be in the wrong half of the table but it is a club with terrific potential and I was very impressed when I went for a look yesterday. Gary Peters was very keen for me to join them and I was impresseed by him."

Preston tabled a second offer to Burnley last night and the bid was accepted by the Turf Moor board of directors after a hastily arranged meeting.

The deal means Burnley will get £150,000 cash straight away with another £25,000 after Nogan has makes a certain number of Deepdale appearances. Nogan underwent a full medical at Deepdale this morning and was then due to put pen to paper on a three-year-deal.

The 26-year-old striker will make his debut in Preston's crucial derby clash against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road at the weekend.

Preston manager Gary Peters said: "We've definitely got a bargain and even Adriain Heath admits that."

Today's transfer could open the door for Clarets manager Adrian Heath to add at least one fresh face to his squad for the promotion assignment at Brentford - with a First Division striker already in his sights.

Heath said: "With Kurt leaving we will need to supplement our attack. This cash could mean we will be able to pursue other avenues very soon.

"I've spoken to a First Division club about a striker and we are working very hard on that."

While news of Nogan's departure for £70,000 less than Burnley paid for him from Brighton in 1995 will arrive as a blow to Burnley fans, it is clear manager Adrian Heath was left with little option in the circumstances.

He faced the growing prospect of losing Nogan for nothing under the Bosman ruling at the end of the current campaign with the player having made his intentions clear about signing a new deal.

A series of well documented off-the-field problems since Christmas began with a public contract wrangle after which Nogan was arrested for a public order offence 48 hours before a crucial league match against Chesterfield.

The most recent dispute saw Nogan refuse to sit on the substitutes bench at Wrexham which led to his axing from the squad for the 5-0 win over Peterborough United.

Heath remarked: "The last few months have proved difficult ones but I think the time is right for Kurt Nogan to move on. "I've done all I can to help Kurt but we have reached an impasse. I think the whole situation could have been handled better on everybody's side and it doesn't do a football club any good when you get a scenario like this.

"I accept that the move could backfire on us, the fact that Preston are in the same division as us and are one of our local rivals. But we've had an offer from them and we've decided to do business."

Heath added: "I think he will tell you that I've never had a personal vendetta against him.

"I just hope that all the things I've said to him in the past year, and I've spoken at length about all aspects of the game to him, that he takes them on board.

"I was just trying to help him become a better footballer and I hope that the penny drops for him because the boy has got a lot of talent.

"He has to harness that skill with the right attitude and then he will improve his chances of playing at a higher level. I wish him well and I hope it works out."

Nogan's move to Deepdale brings to a conclusion a difficult period for club and player.

Nogan arrived at Turf Moor in a then record £250,000 deal from Brighton in February 1995.

He was the Clarets leading scorer last season with 27 league and cup goals, but after a free-scoring start to the season, he had not found the net since Deecember.

Nogan scored 42 league and cup goals for the Clarets in over 90 appearances for Burnley.

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