Joe Garner joins Preston North End after Watford contract cancelled

1:02pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Watford FC News By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Joe Garner. Picture: Holly Cant Joe Garner. Picture: Holly Cant

Joe Garner has signed an 18-month deal at Preston North End after his contract at Watford was cancelled.

The striker had the remainder of his Hornets deal terminated yesterday and the Lilywhites have signed him until the summer of 2014, with the option of a further year.

After making three appearances for Gianfranco Zola’s men at the start of this season, the 24-year-old joined Carlisle United on loan where he scored eight goals in 17 starts for Preston’s League One rivals.

Preston boss Graham Westley told the club’s website: “I looked at Joe in the summer and it wasn’t financially viable in the summer for us to strike a deal with his parent club, so we had to leave it alone then.

“I kept tabs on him throughout the season and he has obviously gone out and had a strong period on loan at Carlisle.”

Despite being born in Blackburn, Garner is a North End fan and Westley added: “He’s a lad [who] stood on the terraces and had a season ticket as a boy and has got a real passion for the club and has got lots of qualities and the qualities he has got in front of goal are ones that will serve us well and I am excited to have him on board and look forward to seeing him wearing a shirt.”

Garner moved to Vicarage Road in the summer of 2011 from Nottingham Forest but scored just one goal in 27 appearances, including nine as a substitute.

Comments(11)

The Not-so-enlightened one says...
1:11pm Tue 8 Jan 13

See, told you so.

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Mickey Quinn, not so thin says...
1:28pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Surprised we didn't get a small fee for him given his original fee and recent goalscoring expoits in Div 1. Perhaps his contract ran out in the summer anyway and we just wanted to save a few months pay ?

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Harry's Bar says...
1:45pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I'm sure this won't be the end of the terminations. There will be a few looking over their shoulder at this news.

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jasonwatford says...
1:50pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Thank god for that

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LuthersLoveChild says...
2:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Good luck to him. Seemed a decent hardworking chap.

Didn't quite work out here, but wish him all the best at Preston

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jasonwatford says...
4:40pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Looks like we received what he is worth

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Hampshire hornet says...
7:04pm Tue 8 Jan 13

jasonwatford wrote:
Looks like we received what he is worth
Made me lol

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D.unstable says...
7:05pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Noooooooooooo!!!!!

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kingofpop says...
10:39pm Tue 8 Jan 13

glad he has got a new club, good luck to him.

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northofwatfordpete says...
9:16am Wed 9 Jan 13

Can't believe that we did not get £100k for him.

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petsoundsnick says...
11:12am Wed 9 Jan 13

He probably had all sorts of clauses in his contract (e.g. loyalty bonus at end of contract) which no doubt has been waived or at least reduced in order for the club to agree to terminate. So although we might not have got a fee, we will have saved money somewhere down the line so in effect have made a return.

Good luck to him. He was crap, but good luck to him.

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