Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom has admitted the club had no competitive team at the start of the season but insists wins are the only way to stop the growing criticism. Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Heckingbottom said the squad has changed every single week since the opening game and that the club now has the tools to compete after a summer of significant investment.
What did Heckingbottom say about the squad's current state?
Heckingbottom told BBC that the club received strong financial backing in the summer transfer window and brought in a dozen new signings across July and August. Despite losing five centre-forwards, Preston replaced them with two new signings and Heckingbottom believes the squad now has the necessary tools to improve. He stressed that success will take time, even with the improved resources, and that developing homegrown players remains the biggest priority for long-term progress.
How is Preston performing in the Championship this season?
Preston North End have lost all four of their Championship matches this season, leaving them bottom of the table with 0 points from 4 games and a recent form of LLLL. The club has scored just three times and conceded nine, resulting in a goal difference of -6 and leaving them 10 points behind league leaders Swansea. Heckingbottom acknowledged the team needs to be more creative to score goals and will require contributions from wider players and even centre-backs, an area where they have previously struggled.
What is the short-term focus for Preston ahead of the Blackburn derby?
Heckingbottom made it clear that the immediate priority is winning games, stating that progression, finishing high, winning promotion, and growing the club are longer-term goals. He said the club took a first step to improve resources and be able to compete, but success will come only through results on the pitch. The short-term focus is purely on securing wins to build momentum and silence doubters.
What challenge does Preston face in their next match?
Preston North End's next fixture is against Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers at home on Saturday, 2026-09-05. Blackburn currently sit 13th in the Championship table, making this a important early-season encounter for both sides. Heckingbottom said the team needs goals and assists from wider players and will need contributions from centre-backs this season to improve their attacking output.
Preston North End will look to end their winless run when they host Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale on 2026-09-05, aiming to secure their first points of the season and begin turning around a campaign that has started with four consecutive defeats.
Heckingbottom also pointed to the fixtures as a key factor in planning their recovery, noting that the upcoming squad depth will be tested in the run-in, while the latest stats show improvement in training ground metrics despite the poor league standings.
