New club, new boss for Cork City’s Kevin O’Connor

Official confirmation that Kevin O’Connor has become Simon Grayson’s last signing as Preston North End manager now gives way to speculation about who the Cork City player – as well as his teammate Sean Maguire and fellow League of Ireland exports Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle – will be playing under at Deepdale next season.

Grayson’s departure for Sunderland has prompted speculation that former Black Cats boss Paolo di Canio could take over at Preston. David Moyes, who began his senior management career at Preston, has also been tipped to make the reverse journey from Wearside, while Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard and current Scunthorpe boss Graham Alexander are also featuring prominently with the bookies.

Whatever concerns he might privately have about the implications of the change at the top for his career at Deepdale, O’Connor was yesterday expressing nothing but delight at his imminent arrival in the Championship.