Davies close to new Preston deal

Preston are confident they can hold on to Billy Davies

Preston manager Billy Davies has confirmed he has been offered an improved contract and is hopeful the situation will soon be "concluded".

"I have been offered a substantially improved contract to stay at Deepdale," Davies told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I was offered the new deal less than a week ago by the club and it was the first time any discussion had taken place about a new deal."

Preston chairman Derek Shaw said he is hopeful of a "satisfactory outcome".

Davies, who took charge of Preston last August and took them to the Championship play-off final, had been strongly linked with Derby and Scottish side Hearts.

Preston have offered Davies a long-term deal as oppose the his current one-year rolling contract - and a hard copy is now with his lawyer.

Shaw added on Preston's website: "We've had very constructive discussions and feel very confident of a satisfactory outcome."

Derby have now turned their attention to Yeovil boss Gary Johnson.

Preston moved quickly to open talks with Davies' representative, Mick McGuire of the Professional Footballers' Association, after George Burley quit as the Rams boss last week.

Shaw rebuffed an informal approach by a Derby director at a meeting of Championship chairmen where he made it clear that Preston were keen to retain the highly-rated Davies.