Andy Little has vowed to put a frustrating season behind him and bounce back stronger than ever following his release from Preston North End. The Enniskillen forward failed to make a first team start for the club this season, and only made five appearances during loan spells at Blackpool and Accrington Stanley.
“I’m not finished, I’ve just had a bad season,” said Andy as looked back on a difficult twelve months that culminated in his release from the club he signed for in June 2014. “I knew it was coming. At the very start of the season the manager at Preston said I would get limited game time. My reaction to that was to stay around for a few months and try my hardest to get into the team but that never materialised. I knew as soon as I went out on loan I wouldn’t be coming back to play at Preston. I joined a club who got promotion and then finished 11th in the championship so I was part of a squad of very good players and I accept that there was better players ahead of me and was just the way it was.”
With no sign of a first team breakthrough Andy decided to go out on loan to Blackpool, but not for the first time in his career his spell there was disrupted by injuries. “Blackpool came around in November and I had an up and down time there,” he admitted. “I got injured in the very first game, which looked as though it had ruined the loan spell. I got back into the team around Christmas and the manager was quite keen to sign me on a permanent deal. I really enjoyed it there but the unfortunate thing was I picked up another injury. The manager then said he would like to sign me but can’t really because I had picked up a couple of injuries. I went back to Preston and got fit again, and then went to Accrington for the last seven games of the season. I joined another team that were doing very well. Of the games I was there they won five and drew two and the manager didn’t want to change a winning team, so it has been a frustrating year. I’ve been fit for the majority of the year but I just haven’t got the game time when I needed it.”
Andy has returned home to spend the summer in his native Fermanagh but he remains focussed on pursuing a professional career, ruling out a return to the Irish Premier League despite several offers. 
The 27 year old has instead targeted potential return to Scotland where he first made his name, although he admits he will consider any offer that will get him back playing football on a regular basis.
“I have been in England for two years and not really done too much, so going back to Scotland where I have more of a reputation might be an option,” he admitted. 
“To be honest I would go almost anywhere. Two years ago I had a couple of options in America and New Zealand so I’m really open to going wherever. It’s a waiting game, and I just have to wait for the phone to ring. 
"Two years ago I was really stressing about it and worried, but this is the most relaxed I have ever been about it. I don’t know if it’s the experience of going through it twice before but I think it’s because I know that wherever I go I’m going to just play football. I’m not trying to get a good deal like I did at Rangers or a big move like I did at Preston. I just want to play football again. I have had a couple of offers already and at least I know I have a couple of options and if nothing else comes up I can fall back on them. It is just a waiting game and if the phone call doesn’t come then I’m happy enough sitting around Fermanagh for a while!”
One Scottish club that appeals to Andy is his former side Rangers, but following their return to the top flight Andy knows his chances of returning to Ibrox and slim. “If I could go anywhere in the world it would probably be Rangers but I don’t think that is going to happen,” he said. “I’d jump at
the opportunity but they are a very good team and they are signing big name players like Joey Barton”
He does still have big ambitions in the game however. His International prospects have suffered a setback in recent seasons as he has struggled hold down a place playing regular first team football. The last of nine International caps came back in 2012, but he believes if he can get back among the goals then he can force his way back into Michael O’Neill’s thoughts. “There are players in that squad who have had bad years like I have just had, and it can turn around very quickly,” he said. “If I go somewhere next season and play the first ten games and score five goals then I’m fairly sure I will be getting a call from Michael. He is very good about not closing the door on you, and if you are doing the business he is prepared to look at you. Michael is good that way and never rules anyone out.”
Andy admits he has been frustrated at missing out on Northern Ireland’s memorable European Championship adventure, and while he will be cheering on the team in France, it will be from his sofa instead of the stands. “If I was there I think I would feel worse about not being involved,” he said. “I will be wishing the boys and Roy, Michael and Kyle well. I have already spoken to Roy and Michael I hope they do well, but as much as it would be great to be out there, I think I would be sitting watching believing I was good enough to on the pitch.”