Last season, Simon Grayson saw his Preston North End team promoted via the play-offs from Sky Bet League One into the Championship.
The main objective for the season was really just to stay up and avoid relegation back to where they came from.
However, the season has panned out very differently for them this season as play-offs have been a genuine possibility for the majority of the campaign.
They currently occupy a position in the top half of the table and have been many people's surprise package this season, especially when you compare them to the disappointing seasons of the other newly-promoted sides.
There are a few people that have seriously stood out for North End this season who the fans will be desperate to see back again but if they were to give a realistic 'Dream XI' there would be many replacements.
If Preston are realistically wanting to push on for promotion next season then it seems that good summer signings will be essential.
FLW's Tom Rawcliffe chooses what he believes to be a Dream XI for Preston North End under Simon Grayson next season......
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE DREAM PRESTON XI!
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GK - Jordan Pickford
England U-21 international Jordan Pickford actually started the season on loan at Deepdale and hugely impressed during his time with the Whites.
The young goalkeeper was arguably Preston's player of the season up to January making crucial saves keeping them in many games. He appeared 27 times for the Lilywhites and managed to keep an impressive 13 clean sheets.
However, his loan deal was cut short by Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce which brought huge disappointment to everyone related to North End.
For Preston fans, if they had a choice of a goalkeeper to sign on a permanent basis their answer would most definitely be Jordan Pickford. But, it is almost impossible that a permanent deal would ever be agreed but they will be hoping to have the extremely highly-rated 'keeper back on their books on loan next season.
RB - Billy Jones
Former Preston right-back, coincidentally also of Sunderland, Billy Jones was a real fans' favourite during his time as a Lilywhite.
He was awarded 'Player of the Season' in the 2010-11 season which saw Preston get relegated and this also saw the end of Billy Jones in a North End shirt as he moved on to Premier League side West Brom.
He has since moved to Sunderland where he has been forced out of the team by US full-back DeAndre Yedlin.
The 29-year-old moving back to Deepdale would bring huge excitement to the North End fans and would also bring some Premier League experience.
CB - Bailey Wright
Australian defender Bailey Wright joined the Preston youth setup in 2009 and has been with the club ever since.
At just 23 years of age he is highly experienced with 183 Preston appearances already to his name.
The centre-back has been a first-team player since making his debut back in 2010 and has since developed massively as a player.
In fact, he was rewarded for his impressive performances with a place in the Australian international squad at the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
He will most likely attract the attention of higher teams in the near future so Preston may have a battle on their hands to keep hold of their man.
CB - Tom Clarke
Partnering Wright at centre-back is fellow Preston defender and team captain Tom Clarke.
The former Huddersfield man has also played a crucial part in Preston's success in recent years since joining in 2013.
Since then, he has appeared 148 times for North End helping them to a total of 58 clean sheets while he's been in the team.
He brings a real voice to the team, adds defensive solidity to the back line and commands the defence extremely well.
LB - Greg Cunningham
After the sale of Scott Laird at the end of last season, Preston fans were very worried that they weren't going to get an improvement on him but left-back Greg Cunningham has proved them well and truly wrong.
Since joining in the summer from Bristol City, Cunningham has had an absolutely fantastic year which he was recently rewarded for as he won the Clubs Player of the Year award and also the Players' Player of the Year award.
He is defensively very sound but he also has the capability of charging up the wing and delivering brilliant deliveries with his left foot. He shows 100% commitment every single week and plays consistently well every game.
RM - Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson
One player who Preston could look at to strengthen their squad is Charlton winger Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson.
The Icelandic winger has been one of the few positives for the Addicks in the season which has seen them relegated into Sky Bet League One.
Having a winger who is capable of not only creating goals but also scoring them is a wonderful trait to have within a team and that's exactly what Gudmundsson brings.
He has scored 17 goals in his last two seasons put together for Charlton and has also picked up 11 assists this season.
The winger would add something really different for the Lilywhites and if he was to sign I think that he would be a good signing for Preston.
CM - Alan Browne
Central midfielder Alan Browne moved to Preston North End from Cork City back in 2014 originally to play in the youth side.
However, his significant development quickly saw him involved in the first team and he has been in and around the squad ever since.
The 21-year-old has already made 80 appearances for the Lilywhites and has attracted attention from Premier League clubs such as Crystal Palace.
His outstanding performances have also been rewarded by his national side as he recently won Republic of Ireland Under-21 Player of the Year.
The Irishman brings lots of energy to midfield and he is very much an all-rounded midfielder who seems to have the potential to reach England's top tier.
CM - Daniel Johnson
Johnson joined the Lilywhites from Premier League side Aston Villa back in January 2015 for an absolute bargain of just £50,000.
The Jamaican midfielder has been an absolute revelation since joining, scoring 16 goals from just over 60 league games which is not a bad return at all from midfield.
In League One, DJ absolutely ripped teams apart and showed himself to be one of the most promising young players in the Football League.
However, despite having 9 goals to his name, Johnson's performances have gone downhill this season with him struggling to show what all North End fans know he is capable of.
They will be hoping to see the DJ who they have gotten used to seeing back next season to lead them to a play-off push.
LM - Paul Gallagher
After making over 110 appearances for Preston over the course of 3 loan spells, Gallagher was finally signed permanently from Leicester City in the summer.
Gallagher has been a key man for the Whites again this season but he has been occupying an unfamiliar position of a quite deep-lying midfielder.
He has still had a fantastic campaign but Preston fans will be hoping to see him moved out left again next season where he is arguably best due to his outstanding ability to deliver a cross.
ST - David Nugent
This is probably the most controversial inclusion to the 'Dream XI' as Preston fans have been dreaming of a Nugent comeback for years now.
This season, Preston have struggled up top and have lacked a real goal scorer to rely on. I believe that if they had a renowned goal scorer up top then they would find themselves a lot closer to the play-off places than they are.
The current Middlesbrough striker is an absolute hero in Preston parts after scoring 33 league goals in 94 matches during a spell that was ended in 2007 when he left to join Portsmouth.
North End fans have dreamt of his return ever since his departure and even though it remains unlikely that he will return next season, he could not be left out of the Dream XI.
ST - Jermaine Beckford
Last year's play-off hero Jermaine Beckford has been forced to miss the majority of the season due to injury.
Preston have really missed their striker as goals haven't been a huge feature in their season whereas last season he couldn't stop scoring with 18 goals including 6 in their successful play-off campaign.
Since his return from injury in March, he has netted 2 goals and Preston fans will be hoping that if they keep him fit for next season, he will continue his profilic form of last season.
Preston fans.....How happy would you be if this was your team to play in the Championship next season? Is there anybody else you would like to see in your squad? Let us know down below!