Confusion surrounds Preston North End’s move for Hamilton Academical defender Mikey Devlin.
Hamilton Academical have suffered one blow this week with Greg Docherty’s imminent move to Ibrox, and they may yet suffer another one as confusion surrounds Mikey Devlin’s future.
The defender has been out injured since the final day of last season, but with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Devlin has attracted interest.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hamilton claimed on their official website that they had agreed a fee with Preston North End, enabling the 24-year-old centre back to make the move to Deepdale.
However, Preston then released a message on Twitter stating that no agreement was in place, with the two clubs seemingly getting crossed wires over Devlin’s future and a potential move.
To add to the confusion, The Scottish Sun report that Preston have in fact had an £80,000 bid for Devlin accepted, with Aberdeen now considering challenging the Lilywhites for his signature.
Preston’s stance continues to look somewhat bizarre given that Hamilton chairman Ronnie MacDonald, speaking after Hamilton’s 3-0 defeat to Hearts on Wednesday night, told the Daily Record that a deal has been agreed to send Devlin to Lancashire.
Michael Devlin of Hamilton Academical
MacDonald claims that, with Devlin’s deal ending in a matter of months, the defender will spend the rest of the season with Preston, and will not only travel down on Friday, but also watch North End’s FA Cup clash with Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.
Devlin played alongside North End boss Alex Neil at Hamilton and then worked under him there too, meaning a reunion could be on the cards – though the situation certainly needs some clarification in the coming days.
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