Irvine resigned to St Ledger exit
Preston boss Alan Irvine has admitted he is powerless to prevent highly-rated defender Sean St Ledger joining Coca-Cola Championship rivals Middlesbrough.
Boro are hoping to complete the signing of the Republic of Ireland international on an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
St Ledger, 24, appeared to bid farewell to Preston fans after staying behind after the final whistle to applaud the Deepdale crowd following the 2-0 win over Swansea.
Neil Mellor claimed his fourth goal in five appearances in the first half and substitute Stephen Elliott added an equally clinical second with a minute remaining.
Irvine said: “We know that there is an interest from Middlesbrough and we know that their interest is quite strong.
“Unfortunately nowadays the decision (to keep a player) doesn’t always come down to the manager.
“Every player at this club will have his price, regardless of whether I want him to stay or whether the chairman and the board want him to stay.
“Sean St Ledger has been fantastic for us and the last thing I want to do is lose a good player.
“He’s come on in leaps and bounds and is a lad who is desperate to learn and desperate to improve.
“He’s very self-critical and is always looking to correct anything he does wrong.
“We’ve got a fantastic relationship and I hope that continues for a long time.”
Mellor, 26, stuck with a fine header in the 27th minute and Elliott fired home a late second from Chris Sedgwick’s low right-wing cross to ensure Swansea’s worst start to a season for seven years continued.
For in-form Preston – now undefeated after six games – the result went some way towards avenging the league double Swansea did over them last season.
Irvine added: “We knew that Swansea would be really well organised and if you don’t do your job they will open you up.
“But we stuck to our task, created plenty of chances and could have won more comfortably in the end.”
Since Roberto Martinez’s defection to Wigan, and Paulo Sousa’s subsequent appointment as his successor, Swansea have struggled badly and offered next to nothing at Deepdale.
A goal threat was seriously lacking and the withdrawal of the ineffective Lee Trundle, back at the Liberty Stadium on loan from Bristol City, after just 57 minutes said everything.
Sousa insisted: “I think that was one of our best games and the only thing missing was putting the ball in the net.
“Against a team like Preston it’s important to take your chances when you get them.
“I’ll keeping believing in my players because of the amount of chances we created.”
