Preston keep Brown option open

Alan Irvine is unsure if Preston North End can afford to sign Wayne Brown permanently as the defender prepares to return to Hull City. Brown joined Preston on Loan last month but will return to Hull after Preston's game with Derby on Tuesday. "Wayne has seen this as an opportunity to get some games, to let everybody know that he is out there and ready to play," Irvine told Preston's website.

"He'll go back to Hull, wait and see what happens between now and January and make a decision on his future at that point.

"It has served its purpose as far as Wayne is concerned, he will now go back to Hull, having played games, he'll wait and see if he gets back in the team in the period between now and January and that will no doubt affect his thinking about whether he has to move away from Hull or whether he is able to stay there.

"I don't know whether we could be in contention or not, because of the wages, but that's something that we have to just accept, it's something we have to be realistic about.

"People are keen to play football, good professionals like Wayne are desperate to play, but I don't think they will take a big drop in wages in order to do so - I wouldn't!"