Meeting in Response to Open Letter to Preston North End Football Club
PNE Online and Preston Supporters Collective – Preston North End Chairman – Craig Hemmings
02/12/24 – Euxton Training Facility
On December 2, 2024, two representatives from PNE Online and the Preston Supporters Collective (PSC) met with Preston North End Chairman, Craig Hemmings, following his invitation to discuss the concerns raised in the open letter addressed to the club on November 27, 2024. The meeting lasted for several hours and involved in-depth discussions on a number of key topics. Here is a detailed account of what was covered.
1. Perception of Preston North End to Its Supporters
The meeting began by addressing the key statement in the open letter which referred to Preston North End as “the most boring club in the EFL.” This comment had sparked significant media attention and varying interpretations. The fans representatives clarified that the phrase referred to the club’s long period of being in the Championship and the general perception that the club appeared content with midtable finishes year after year. It was noted that, under the new management, there has been noticeable improvement in the style of play, and that the majority of the fanbase is supportive of the new manager's vision. However, it was acknowledged that previous seasons, particularly under former manager Ryan Lowe, had felt uninspiring and lacked excitement, with many long-time fans feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
Craig Hemmings emphasised that the club was aware of the need to improve the footballing style, but the perception that PNE had become “apathetic” was a valid concern, especially after a series of poor performances in the final months of the previous season.
2. The Unacceptable End to Last Season
One of the main issues raised by fans was the disappointing end to the previous season. The meeting discussed how the team had shown early promise but then faltered dramatically, culminating in a lackluster finish and Ryan Lowe’s eventual resignation.
Fans expressed their belief that the turning point came after the away match at Watford on Gentry Day, where the team played for a draw in a match that many felt was a must-win game. Although the fans representatives acknowledged that it might have been premature to sack Lowe at that stage, they agreed that the subsequent run of poor results and disappointing performances should have led to action being taken in the summer.
Chairman Hemmings was careful to point out that the end-of-season disappointment was a collective issue rather than solely the fault of the manager. He explained that before the final seven matches, he met with the players and coaching staff to highlight the importance of the remaining fixtures and the opportunity to push for a playoff spot. However, despite these conversations, the team’s performances were poor, and it was clear that the players’ commitment was lacking in the final games. Hemmings referred to it as an “unacceptable” end to the season, he also was angered by comments in the media from some players that “there was nothing to play for.”
When questioned about the pre-season trip to Spain and rumours of disharmony within the squad, Mr. Hemmings admitted that he should have been more aware of the situation but was unable to attend the training camp in person.
It was revealed that after the opening day defeat to Sheffield United, Ryan Lowe requested to leave the club. Hemmings confirmed that, after this request, both he and Peter Ridsdale respected Lowe’s decision, despite the fact that he had previously been given the chance to continue into the new season. No attempt was made to convince him otherwise, and that Peter’s interview on a national radio station was not helpful and understood the fans frustration on the matter.
3. Ongoing Funding and Sustainability of Preston North End
Another major topic of discussion was the club’s funding and financial sustainability. Fans raised concerns about the future of the club’s financial stability, questioning whether the funding model was sustainable in the long term.
Craig Hemmings reassured fans that the Hemmings family remains fully committed to funding Preston North End, and there was no truth to rumours suggesting that the family have turned down offers to sell the club. Hemmings clarified that he is solely responsible for signing off on all key financial decisions, including transfers, departmental budgets, and the general running of the club. He emphasised that there had been no external interest in buying the club since the failed bid by Chris Kirchner, whose bid was ultimately rejected due to a lack of funding despite passing EFL tests.
Hemmings also dismissed rumours suggesting that the family demanded certain financial commitments or investment from other parties. He explained that the only requirements imposed on potential buyers by the EFL are proof of funding for two years, but this does not translate into the club demanding certain levels of investment from outside parties.
4. Transfers, Recruitment Strategy, and Contract Management
Concerns were raised regarding the club’s recruitment strategy, particularly the issues surrounding the contract renewals of several key players. Fans noted that eight first-team players are out of contract at the end of the current season, and this has caused anxiety among the supporter base.
Craig Hemmings responded by explaining that the club’s strategy is to support its managers in recruitment decisions, even if the board does not always agree with them. He acknowledged that previous managers had been keen to sign players for large fees but then failed to play them regularly. Additionally, some players’ agents had attempted to leverage the club for better deals while publicly touting their clients to other clubs.
It was also agreed that being unaware of a player being able to option a contract extension was a mistake. Hemmings took responsibility for this error, agreeing that it should have been handled differently and confirming that such issues would not be allowed to happen again.
As for the club's current squad, Hemmings expressed a desire to retain some of the out-of-contract players but emphasised that this decision ultimately depends on manager Paul Heckingbottom and the players themselves. The club is open to letting players go if they choose not to renew their contracts, seeing it as an opportunity to refresh the squad rather than a negative.
5. Peter Ridsdale's Role at the Club
The issue of Peter Ridsdale’s role at Preston North End was discussed at length, with many fans voicing their concerns about his influence at the club. Fans felt that Ridsdale was too involved in recruitment, contract negotiations, and other key decisions, despite being officially only a director.
Craig Hemmings sought to clarify Ridsdale's role, explaining that Ridsdale does not sign players. The manager identifies potential recruits, and recruitment staff, including James Wallace and MRKT Insights, identify players that fit the manager’s needs. Ridsdale’s role, according to Hemmings, is to help facilitate deals if they are feasible within the club’s budget. Hemmings insisted that he signs off on all player contracts and transfers, not Ridsdale.
Hemmings also acknowledged the perception of fans that Ridsdale had too much influence at the club, agreeing that this issue needed to be addressed more clearly to the fanbase. To that end, Hemmings promised that the club would work on communicating its management structure more clearly to ensure fans understand who is responsible for what decisions.
6. Club Communication & Fan Engagement
Another key issue raised by the supporters was the lack of meaningful communication from the club’s decision-makers. Fans expressed frustration that most of the communication, especially with the media, was done by Peter Ridsdale rather than Craig Hemmings. The supporters encouraged the chairman to engage more directly with the fanbase through regular updates, open forums, and other communication channels.
While Hemmings expressed some reservations about engaging with large groups of fans, he acknowledged the importance of improving the club's communication with its supporters. Fans proposed more structured avenues for dialogue, such as fan forums, webinars for season ticket holders, and more regular statements from the club to improve transparency and reduce misunderstandings.
7. Youth Development and Academy Investment
The development of Preston North End’s youth academy was also a major topic of conversation. Fans expressed concerns that the club had not invested enough into its youth system, which they believe could have helped develop homegrown talent and generate future transfer income.
Craig Hemmings confirmed that he believes investing in player development is crucial for the club's future success. While there had been efforts to improve facilities, such as investing in Springfields, he acknowledged that the club had not yet achieved the desired success in bringing through youth players into the first team. Hemmings also discussed ongoing discussions with the local council and the EFL to improve the club's academy standing, although rules about having a dome in the EFL's academy rules had made progress difficult.
8. Outsourcing and Club Infrastructure
Fans raised concerns about the quality of services provided by external contractors for the club’s infrastructure, including catering and the club shop. While Craig Hemmings explained that outsourcing made financial sense, he accepted that there had been issues with quality and service. The chairman promised to address these concerns and improve the standards of the club shop and online services, which had not met fans’ expectations.
9. Stadium and Financial Fair Play
The maintenance of Deepdale was also brought up, with fans pointing out that the stadium’s exterior had been neglected, and cleaning had only occurred after media coverage. Hemmings acknowledged this issue and assured fans that steps would be taken to improve the stadium's upkeep, although he also mentioned that any investments in stadium maintenance would have to be carefully considered alongside player signings due to the constraints of Financial Fair Play (FFP).
Hemmings was keen to advise that whilst stadium infrastructure costs are not part of FFP, it all comes from one budget, so any spending on areas such as the Town End roof or Floodlights has to be balanced against strengthening the team.
The issue of safe standing was also raised, with fans disappointed by the club’s quick dismissal of the idea. Craig Hemmings explained that the cost of implementing safe standing was high, but he accepted that fans' input should be considered in future discussions.
Conclusion
While the meeting addressed many of the concerns raised by supporters, it became clear that there are still significant differences between the club’s leadership and the fans. Many supporters are frustrated with the perceived lack of transparency in decision-making and the ongoing presence of Peter Ridsdale at the club, whose role in recruitment and contract negotiations continues to be controversial. Fans are also calling for greater investment in youth development and more direct communication from Craig Hemmings himself.
We stated that some supporters (outside of PNE Online and PSC) wish to have protests or take further action to demonstrate their views, it is very much the hope of Craig Hemmings that the clarification on some areas above will help the fans to understand the structure of PNE and that Peter Ridsdale does not “do everything and he is very much in charge.
While the meeting was productive, it is clear that there are significant challenges ahead for the club if it is to restore the faith of its supporters. Hemmings reiterated that he values the support of the club’s fans and will continue to work with the supporters’ groups to improve the overall experience. We agreed that further engagement will be necessary to rebuild the trust that has been eroded in recent years.
