Heckingbottom's exit leaves Preston North End in relegation danger

The roar of the Deepdale crowd faded as the final whistle blew, marking Paul Heckingbottom's last match in charge of Preston North End, a club now languishing in the Championship's relegation zone after a string of defeats that have seen the side slip from fourth place to 23rd and six defeats in seven games this season.

There is a temptation, when a manager is sacked after six defeats in seven games, to look at the final result and say – well, what did you expect? For Preston North End supporters, however, Paul Heckingbottom's departure means far more than a poor start to the 2026‑27 Championship season.

A brief high point in 2025‑26

In the first half of the 2025‑26 campaign, North End sat fourth after 26 games, having amassed 43 points – only Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Coventry were ahead. The side appeared organised, competitive and capable of changing games.

The attacking threat came from Harrison Armstrong, Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin, while goalkeeper Daniel Iversen added calmness at the back. Those contributions had been sorely missed in the previous season.

The stark numbers behind the fall

Heckingbottom leaves after 109 competitive games, recording 30 wins, 38 draws and 41 defeats – a win rate of just over 27 percent. The decline was swift: the best eleven lasted only half a season before the worst side emerged.

From the start of the calendar year the team lost 17 of 27 league matches, and the new season began with six defeats in the first seven games. Such a run left the club with little alternative but to act.

North End now sit 23rd in the Championship, a squad that has been heavily rebuilt yet still feels lacking, while frustrated fans watch a takeover saga linger unresolved. Recruitment and ownership decisions have come under intense scrutiny.

The next appointment must be the right one, the takeover issue resolved, and the club must return to delivering winning football if it hopes to escape the relegation battle.