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Defender Kian Best threw shade at Preston North End after apparently learning he was being released by his boyhood club via a post on Instagram. The 19-year-old defender is on loan at Irish club Bohemians until June, but PNE have already announced his Deepdale exit. The Lancashire-born ace has been a Preston player from a young age, having come through the Championship side's academy system. He signed on scholarship terms with the club in 2021 and then a new professional contract in July 2023. But after a promising start to his young career, with former manager Ryan Lowe praising his ability, first-team opportunities dried up and he was sent on loan to the League of Ireland Premier Division in January for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign. And he has now learned he will not be a Preston player next season, after being included in the club’s list of released players. However, it appears he wasn’t told about his departure before learning the news from a post from the club’s official Instagram account. “We’d like to wish the players leaving us this summer the very best of luck for the future, ” read the post, along with a slideshow of eight players who are set to leave. It included an image of Best with the caption: “Thank you Besty”. Best then reposted it on his Instagram stories along with the message: “Good way to find out through Instagram. ” The youngster appears to have since deleted his post. The news was unlikely to have been a total surprise to him, though, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season and the player seemingly in no discussions with the club over an extension. Along with Best, Preston also announced that goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, Danish forward Emil Riis, long-serving midfielder Ryan Ledson and German defender Patrick Bauer will also depart when their contracts expire in the summer. Ledson played 215 games for Preston, with seven goals, since his arrival from Oxford in May 2018. He made his final appearance in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Bristol City - a crucial point that helped the Deepdale club avoid relegation to League One on the final day of the season. "I've had the best seven years that I could have asked for. This club means so much to me, " he told the club website. "I'm glad my last game for the club went as well as it did and I could have that moment with the fans at the end. " Meanwhile, former Hull, Norwich and Burnley forward Robbie Brady has been offered a new deal to stay at Preston, and striker Ched Evans is in talks over a coaching role. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited
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