Preston sack manager Paul Heckingbottom after poor start

Preston North End have dismissed manager Paul Heckingbottom following a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City, leaving the club second bottom of the Championship with just three points from seven games.

Preston North End have sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom. The decision follows a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City at Deepdale on Saturday, a result that left the club 23rd in the Championship with only three points from their first seven games.

Assistant Stuart McCall has also left the club. Coach Jason Euell has been placed in interim charge ahead of Saturday's trip to Queens Park Rangers.

A results business

The club confirmed the move in a statement on Monday. "Football is a results business and despite significant investment in the playing squad since Paul joined, the results during 2026 and the start of this current campaign have not been acceptable," it said. The statement added that Heckingbottom leaves "with our thanks and best wishes" for his professionalism.

Heckingbottom was appointed in August 2024, replacing Ryan Lowe. His tenure of 109 games yielded 30 wins, 38 draws and 41 defeats, a win rate of just over 27 percent. The team's form collapsed in 2026, winning only seven of 29 league matches. This season's solitary victory came just over a week ago against Blackburn Rovers, but six defeats in seven games proved the final straw. The team has scored just six goals while conceding 13, and their next fixture is a difficult away game at Queens Park Rangers this Saturday.

From promise to peril

There were early signs of promise. Last season, Preston were fourth in the table after 26 games, behind only Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Coventry. But a run of 12 defeats in the final 22 matches saw them slump to 14th. The slide has continued into the new campaign. Top scorer Cian Lang has three of the team's six goals, but the team has lost its last two matches.

Heckingbottom was backed in the summer transfer window with signings including Harry Clarke, Alfie Devine and Stan Mills. Despite that investment, performances have not improved. The loss to Lincoln, sealed by Freddie Draper's 81st minute goal, was met with loud boos from the home support.

Jason Euell's first task is that away game at QPR this weekend. After that match, a three week international break will give the club's hierarchy time to consider a permanent appointment. The current standings show the scale of the task, while the full fixtures list highlights the need for a quick turnaround. The interim boss will also have to plan without injured duo Ali McCann and Brad Potts.