Preston North End's dream of creating a football academy for youngsters came a step closer this week.

Planners at the city council approved the club's application for an indoor training facility, one of the FA's condition for an academy. Chairman Derek Shaw admitted that money set aside for the building had been spent on players after the council originally declined planning permission in 2004 and a subsequent appeal in 2005 was also rejected.

Mr Shaw said: "I'm thrilled to bits that we've got the okay. We had scheduled the money, but we've spent that on players and other things but now we'll address that, look at things over the next few months and hopefully proceed with the scheme when the funding is in place."