By Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterNATIONAL STRIKER Ricardo Fuller looks set to end a two-year association with English First Division Club Preston North End as his transfer request, which was handed in through his manager Phil Graham, was accepted by the club.
According to reports on both the BBC and the club's web sites, the transfer request confirmed the worst fears of the Preston fans.
There has been speculation about the player's future for weeks and the player himself appeared to have added fuel to the fire when he cleared his club locker in May.
Fuller was also reported to have turned down "a lucrative contract extension earlier this season".
FREE TRANSFER
With the player having just a year left to run on his contract, he could leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
"We have to be realistic," Preston chairman Derek Shaw told the club's website.
"There is no point holding on to a player who is not 110 per cent behind the club and his team-mates," he added.
Like Shaw, manager Craig Brown who brought Fuller to the club, was disappointed with the development.
"I am naturally very disappointed. Apparently, Ricardo is very impatient to get into the bigger money," Brown said of the 24-year-old.
He added: "It is a blow to lose one of the better players, but we will press on as a matter of urgency to find a suitable replacement.
"As things stand, there are no bids on the table for Ricardo, but obviously we would expect some interest now that the board has accepted his request," Brown continued.
During the January transfer window of last season, a number of Premier League clubs were said to have expressed an interest in the speedy forward who up to then had scored 17 goals for his club.
None of those moves materialised and the club will now have to sell at a cut price or risk losing him for nothing.
Prior to joining Preston, Fuller played for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership where like Preston he was considered a fan favourite. He also represented Crystal Palace after a proposed move to Charlton Athletic fell through mainly due to injury.
