Preston North End's crisis has deepened with a third consecutive defeat, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the Championship. The club has taken just four points from its opening 11 league games, the worst start in the division, and is on course to concede over 100 goals this season.
Graham Alexander, the club legend who replaced the sacked Paul Heckingbottom, has lost all three of his matches in charge. The latest was a 4-1 defeat at Wrexham on Saturday, which followed a 4-0 loss at Birmingham City. Preston have now conceded 24 goals, the highest tally in the league, while scoring only nine. Their recent form reads LLLDL, with just one draw in the last five outings.
Managerial instability
Heckingbottom was dismissed seven games into the campaign after a run of just six points from January to March last season. Alexander's return to Deepdale was meant to spark a revival, but he has found no quick fix. "There is no magic wand," Alexander told reporters. He acknowledged seeing gradual improvements but stressed the need for time, a commodity in short supply. "We are not blessed with time," he said, adding that everything has to be done quickly in football. The manager also confirmed he is looking to appoint one person to replace departed first-team coaches Andy Liddell and Peter Murphy.
Squad and ownership concerns
A summer spending spree aimed at addressing an ageing squad has so far failed to deliver. Six players aged 23 or under were signed, but the likes of Liam Gibbs, Caleb Wiley, Jusef Erabi and Delano Burgzorg have offered little positive impact. The only bright spot from last season's successful loan trio, Alfie Devine, has joined permanently and scored in the loss at Wrexham.
Off the pitch, a potential takeover by Saudi businessman Amr Zedan remains unresolved nine months after he was first reported as a bidder and was seen at a home game in April. Chairman Ian Penrose stated negotiations are ongoing but offered no guarantees. "This is not an easy and quick process, and there can be no certainty that a sale will be concluded," Penrose said. This prolonged uncertainty, coupled with the team's dire form, has created a spiral that makes a takeover appear less viable and leaves CEO Peter Ridsdale and the recruitment team facing serious questions.
Injuries compound the problems, with Liam Gibbs ruled out until the new year and defender Lewis Gibson missing the next match. Preston, who are 19 points behind league leaders Swansea, host fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion at Deepdale this Saturday. Five of their next seven opponents are currently in the top seven, presenting a formidable challenge for Alexander and his squad.
