Struggling Preston North End sack Heckingbottom

WHAT HAPPENED
Preston North End have dismissed manager Paul Heckingbottom after a run that has left the club second-bottom of the Championship. The decision followed a sequence of six defeats in seven league matches, most recently a 1-0 home loss to Lincoln City at Deepdale, when the final whistle was met with boos from the crowd.

Heckingbottom, who was hired in August 2024, had overseen 109 matches in charge. The club also confirmed assistant Stuart McCall has departed, while coach Jason Euell has been named interim head coach.

KEY CONTEXT
- Since the start of January, Preston recorded only five league wins from 27 matches, a slump the club cited when explaining its decision.
- In Heckingbottom’s first season the club finished 20th — their lowest Championship placing since returning to the division in 2015 — and they avoided relegation with a final-day draw at Bristol City. That campaign included an FA Cup run that ended in a quarter-final defeat to Aston Villa, reached after a 3-0 win over Burnley in the fifth round.
- In 2025-26 Preston began strongly, losing just one of their first nine league games and ranking among the early pace-setters, but a run of 12 defeats in the final 22 matches left them 14th.
- The club had backed Heckingbottom in the transfer window, bringing in defender Harry Clarke (from Ipswich), midfielder Alfie Devine (permanent from Tottenham), winger Stan Mills (from Oxford United), midfielder Leo Leroy (from Basel) and forward Johnny Kenny (from Celtic on deadline day).

WHY IT MATTERS
Preston’s board cites poor recent results despite significant investment in the playing squad, making the managerial change a response to form and league position rather than a lack of spending. The departure of both the manager and his assistant alters the coaching setup immediately and arrives at a time when the team is fighting to climb out of the relegation zone.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Jason Euell will take temporary charge for the club’s upcoming trip to QPR on Saturday.
- After that fixture Preston face a three-week international break, a window the club may use to consider longer-term managerial options (the source confirms only Euell’s interim role and the scheduled fixtures/break).
- Supporter reaction and any further staff or recruitment moves will be key to monitor as the club seeks to arrest the run of poor results.

KEY FACTS
- Paul Heckingbottom appointed August 2024; managed 109 games for Preston.
- Preston second-bottom after suffering six defeats in seven league matches.
- Only five league wins from 27 matches since the start of January.
- Latest result: 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City; crowd expressed displeasure at full-time.
- Assistant Stuart McCall has left; Jason Euell named interim head coach.
- Recent January/transfer window signings: Harry Clarke, Alfie Devine, Stan Mills, Leo Leroy, Johnny Kenny.