Preston North End have strengthened their board of directors, with Craig Hemmings being appointed to the board and assuming the role of Chairman.

Craig, 57, has been in attendance at the club’s senior management meetings during recent years, representing owner Mr Hemmings’ interests. He 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.

The club has operated without someone in the Chairman’s seat in recent seasons, but the appointment will see him join the board alongside chief executive John Kay, finance director Kevin Abbott and non-executive directors David Taylor, David Robinson and Anthony Hughes.

Speaking about the role Craig Hemmings said: “I am delighted to take up the position of Chairman at this proud and historic club. 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.”