RELEASED Wanderers striker Jermaine Beckford has agreed to join Preston North End on a two-year contract when his contract ends later this month.

The 31-year-old netted a hat-trick for the Lilywhites in their League One play-off final victory against Swindon in the last game of his loan spell from the Macron Stadium.

Now he has made the move to Deepdale permanent and will face Wanderers for Preston in next season's Championship.

Beckford was reunited with his former Leeds boss Simon Grayson at Preston when he joined on loan last November.

After a slow start, hampered by serious ear infection, Beckford went on a scoring run that helped North End secure promotion to the second tier, netting 18 goals – six of which came in the three play-off matches.

Following the victory at Wembley, Grayson made no secret of his desire to sign Beckford permanently after his disappointing spell of just 11 goals in 51 appearances for Wanderers in less than 18 months.

And the frontman says it was his relationship with the Preston boss that made it an easy decision to sign.

Beckford told the North End website: "The management are a big reason, we have just a good understanding and relationship and it was a no brainer really.

"I had a great time last season and everybody here, the staff, players, have just been amazing with me and it's somewhere that feels like home.

"My aim is to get as high up the league as possible, hopefully push for promotion but first and foremost it's about making sure that we do things right, like we did last year.

"Last season was a great season for us and for me I just want to make sure that I give everything that I can give and do the best that I can do."