 He was signed as an understudy to on loan goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and remained on the bench after Pickford was recalled, as Sam Johnstone and Anders Lindegaard also joined the club on loan.Kirkland was released by manager Simon Grayson when his contract at Deepdale expired at the end of the 2015–16 season.Kirkland joined League One club Bury on a one-year contract in June 2016.