Preston sack Heckingbottom after seven games of season due to 'unacceptable' results

Paul Heckingbottom has paid the price for Preston North End's disastrous start to the season with the Championship club parting company with their beleaguered manager.

Heckingbottom, 49, had been in the role for just over two years. However, fans turned against the former Sheffield United boss on Saturday following the 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City, PNE's sixth league defeat in seven games. The result leaves them second bottom of the Championship.

The Lilywhites poor start to the campaign follows a record-breaking outlay in the summer transfer window, with around £15million spent on new signings.

A statement announcing Heckingbottom's departure referenced the "significant investment in the playing squad", adding that results following that have "not been acceptable".

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“Preston North End Football Club have today taken the decision to part company with Paul Heckingbottom as First Team Football Manager,” the statement read. “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.

“Paul leaves us with our thanks and best wishes. His professionalism and work ethic during his time with us have been second to none.

“As a result of this decision Stuart McCall has also left the Club today. We similarly thank Stuart for his contribution over the last two years and wish him all the best for the future.

“We will now look to appoint a new manager as soon as possible but until such time as we do Jason Euell will take charge of first team matters on an interim basis.”

Heckingbottom, who took charge of 109 games during his Deepdale tenure, had overseen just five wins across 27 league games since January.

Angry fans chanted for him to be sacked after the game and Heckingbottom took the criticism on the chin. He told The Lancashire Evening Post: “Yes, I understand [the chants]. You can't hide away from it.

“As I say, it's a results business. There's only one way to stop it and that's to win the games.”