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Preston North End have appointed Craig Hemmings as chairman.

The 57-year-old has joined the board and fills a role that has been vacant in recent seasons.

Hemmings, son of PNE owner Trevor, has been in attendance at the club’s senior management meetings in recent years, representing his dad's interests and said he is looking forward to his new post.

“I am delighted to take up the position of chairman at this proud and historic club," he said.

"My family’s connections with Preston North End have been in place for almost five decades and my own involvement dates back to the early 1970s when I first watched PNE play. It is a pleasure and a privilege to continue that involvement.

“I have been able to get an understanding of the workings of the club in recent seasons and we have a very hard working and dedicated group of staff.

"We have a young and exciting group of players, led by Alex Neil, with the close involvement of Peter Ridsdale on all footballing matters.

"I look forward to my continued involvement in PNE in this new position.”

Hemmings also sits on the board of a number of other Hemmings family businesses, including its hotels company, as well as acting as a non-executive director of other private leisure businesses.

He joins the board alongside chief executive John Kay, finance director Kevin Abbott and non-executive directors David Taylor, David Robinson and Anthony Hughes.