Preston North End have sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom following a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City in the EFL Championship.
Saturday’s result leaves Preston second from bottom with just three points from their opening seven matches of the campaign.
Heckingbottom departs after two years in charge, having amassed 30 wins, 38 draws and 41 defeats in 109 matches.
Preston sack Heckingbottom
In an official statement, the Lilywhites said: “Preston North End Football Club have taken the decision to part company with Paul Heckingbottom as first-team football manager.
“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.
“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.”
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Hughes demands reaction
Speaking to the club website after the loss to Lincoln, defender Andrew Hughes stated: “It’s disappointing. We needed to win the game.
“We’ve all got to look at ourselves because at the minute it’s not good enough. It’s as simple as that.
“We all need to look at ourselves because defenders, attackers, we’ve got to start doing our job better. We all need to stick together because it’s been a tough time at the minute.
“We’ve controlled games, but it just hasn’t gone our way. There’s only one thing we can do and that’s stick together, battle every week, every game.
“It’s a great changing room. There are honest lads in there. There’s no doubt everyone’s going to go out there, work hard, fight for the club and for everyone else.
“We know there’s frustration around the place. We all need to support each other and we’ve got to dig in.”
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By Michael Davey
