Breaking news: Paul Heckingbottom departs PNE — full club statement issued.

Paul Heckingbottom has been dismissed by Preston North End after just over two years in charge, with the club confirming the decision following a disastrous beginning to the 2026/27 Championship campaign.

The 49-year-old manager leaves Deepdale after Preston suffered six defeats from their opening seven league matches. Those results have left North End second from bottom of the Championship, with Saturday’s 1-0 home loss against Lincoln City ultimately bringing Heckingbottom’s tenure to an end.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom | Richard Martin-Roberts / CameraSport

Stuart McCall has also departed Preston as part of the managerial change. First-team coach Jason Euell will assume responsibility for the senior side on an interim basis while the club begins its search for a permanent successor.

Heckingbottom’s Preston tenure comes to an end

Heckingbottom took over at Preston in August 2024 after Ryan Lowe left the club. His initial period in charge offered reasons for optimism, but North End’s performances and results deteriorated as his first season progressed.

Preston became increasingly involved in a relegation fight during the latter stages of the 2024/25 campaign. Despite the difficult finish, Heckingbottom’s side managed to avoid relegation by securing their Championship status on the final day.

There was renewed optimism heading into the following season, however, as Preston made an encouraging start to the 2025/26 campaign. At one stage, North End were just three points behind the automatic promotion places with 20 matches still to play.

That promising position failed to translate into a serious promotion challenge. Instead, Preston endured a dramatic collapse during the second half of the campaign and eventually finished 14th in the Championship with 60 points.

The poor run continued into 2026, with results becoming increasingly difficult to defend. Across the calendar year, Preston won only seven of their 32 matches, while drawing six and losing 19.

That record placed increasing pressure on Heckingbottom, and the opening weeks of the new campaign eventually proved decisive.

Six defeats from seven games

Preston’s start to 2026/27 has been particularly damaging. Six losses in seven Championship matches left the club occupying 23rd position, with Saturday’s defeat against Lincoln City proving to be the final blow.

The 1-0 reverse at Deepdale meant Preston were unable to halt their alarming slide and prompted the club hierarchy to act.

The decision arrives despite the significant investment made in the playing squad since Heckingbottom’s appointment. Preston acknowledged that financial backing had been provided to improve the team, but stressed that the results delivered during 2026 and the early part of the current campaign had fallen well below acceptable standards.

The club’s statement made clear that results ultimately determined the decision, while also paying tribute to Heckingbottom’s professionalism and commitment during his time at Deepdale.

Heckingbottom’s record at Preston

During his time in charge, Heckingbottom managed Preston in 109 competitive matches. His overall record consisted of 30 victories, 38 draws and 41 defeats.

That gives him a win percentage of 27.5 per cent during his spell with North End.

Although his record included a substantial number of draws, the number of defeats, particularly during 2026, eventually became impossible for the club to overlook.

The dramatic contrast between Preston’s promising position midway through last season and their current relegation battle highlights the scale of the decline. With the club having been within touching distance of the automatic promotion places last season, expectations were understandably higher heading into the new campaign.

Instead, North End have struggled to turn performances into points and now face another period of uncertainty as the club searches for a new manager.

McCall also leaves Deepdale

Heckingbottom’s departure is not the only change confirmed by Preston. Stuart McCall has also left his position with the club.

McCall worked alongside Heckingbottom during their time together and will now depart after more than two years at Deepdale. Preston thanked him for his contribution and wished him well for the future.

With both men leaving, the club has turned to Jason Euell as a temporary solution.

Euell, who has been part of the first-team coaching setup, will oversee first-team matters while Preston’s hierarchy conducts its search for a permanent replacement.

His immediate task will be attempting to stabilise a team that has lost six of its opening seven league matches and restore confidence before the Championship campaign moves into its next phase.

QPR comes next

Preston’s next fixture could hardly arrive at a more significant moment. North End are scheduled to travel to QPR on Saturday, giving Euell an immediate opportunity to make an impact in his interim role.

The match will then be followed by an extended international break, giving Preston’s hierarchy additional time to assess potential managerial candidates and determine the direction the club wants to take.

North End are due back in action at home against Millwall on October 10. By then, the club will hope to have appointed a permanent manager and begun rebuilding momentum.

Club statement

Preston North End confirmed the decision through an official statement, explaining that Heckingbottom’s results had ultimately forced the club into action.

“Preston North End Football Club have today 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 today. We similarly thank Stuart for his contribution over the last two years and wish him every best wishes 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’s departure brings an end to a two-year spell that promised considerably more after his arrival in 2024. Preston will now look for a manager capable of reversing their fortunes quickly and preventing what currently threatens to become another difficult Championship campaign.