Preston North End midfielder John Welsh has agreed an extension to his contract until the end of the 2017/18 season.

The Liverpool-born No.19 joined the club back in July 2012 and has gone on to make well over 150 appearances for the club and is now approaching 400 career appearances.





His current deal was due to expire at the end of the current season, but has joined the likes of Greg Cunningham, Tom Clarke, Paul Huntington, Paul Gallagher and Jordan Hugill in extending their stays with the Lilywhites.





Speaking about the decision to sign a new contract the 32-year-old said: “I'm delighted. I've enjoyed every minute since I signed here and to extend it by another year is really exciting.





"There's no other place you would want to come in day to day and work. We have a great management, great staff, a great bunch of lads and I enjoy working with everyone at the stadium so there's no better place to play and to work.”





Manager Simon Grayson was pleased that another member of his squad had committed himself to PNE, adding: “John has been a fantastic member of the squad since I have been here. It shows what sort of professional he is that in the early part of the season he wasn’t even in the 18 and then before you know it he is in the starting 11 and doing a fantastic job.





“This is a contract he has deserved because of his loyalty to the football club and what he does, both on and off the pitch. He is still the club captain – along with Tom Clarke - and I am really pleased with the job that he has done. People like John can’t be underestimated because of the jobs they do both on and off the pitch.”



