Jobi McAnuff names three managers Preston should consider

Jobi McAnuff has named Graham Alexander, Rob Edwards and Steve Cooper as managerial candidates for Preston North End, who are searching for a new boss.

Jobi McAnuff has named three managers Preston North End should consider for their vacant managerial position. The former winger made his suggestions on the BBC's 72+ Podcast as the club sits 23rd in the Championship with just three points from seven games, a situation detailed in the current standings.

Preston are in the hunt for a new boss after parting ways with Paul Heckingbottom. They have won only one of their opening seven league fixtures, a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers, and are in the relegation zone alongside Derby County and Burnley. The Lilywhites' recent form reads LLWLL, with a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City their last outing at Deepdale. The team's overall stats show they have scored just six goals this season while conceding thirteen, with C. Lang their top scorer on three goals.

McAnuff's shortlist

McAnuff, who played for West Ham, Watford and Reading, believes a familiar face could provide stability. "I think Graham Alexander is a sensible shout, an absolute club legend," he said. "Again, there's a question mark of him working at that level but he's at a massive football club, albeit in League One at the moment." Alexander, who had two spells as a Preston player before retiring in 2021, is currently managing in League One.

The pundit also pointed to Rob Edwards, who was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers over the summer and has extensive EFL experience. His final suggestion was Steve Cooper, who guided Nottingham Forest to Premier League promotion via the play-offs in 2022. "Steve Cooper for me would be a great one," McAnuff added. "It's a question mark of who wants to go there as well."

The challenge ahead

Other names linked with the role include Steven Gerrard, Dave Challinor, Carlos Corberan and Kieran McKenna. The club's current predicament, with a possible takeover also on the horizon, presents a significant challenge for any new appointment. The incoming manager will have to work with a squad currently missing key players Ali McCann and Brad Potts, who are sidelined through injury.

The immediate focus is on Saturday's trip to London to face Queens Park Rangers, a key fixture in the club's fixtures list as they look to climb away from danger. The team has set a goal of accumulating 60 minutes of high-intensity, goal-focused pressing in their upcoming matches, a target that will be a key metric for the new manager's early tenure.