Hibbert explains Vale exit

Dave Hibbert insists he could not refuse the opportunity to join Preston North End from Port Vale.

The teenage striker upset Vale with his decision to quit the League One outfit in favour of a move to last season's Championship play-off finalists.

Vale had offered Hibbert a one-year deal to stay at the club, with a further 12 months guaranteed if he made a specified number of appearances.

But the young hot shot opted to sever his longstanding ties with Vale and instead signed a three-year contract at Deepdale.

Though the transfer, with the fee to be decided by a tribunal, has disappointed Vale, Hibbert feels he had little option but to accept Preston's offer.

"People were saying I was being naive being concerned I wouldn't be in the first team at Vale next season but I was just being realistic," Hibbert told The Sentinel.

"Had I stayed at Vale for a year and then been released I would never have forgiven myself for not taking this opportunity at Preston."