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August 20, 2024
On Saturday, Preston will play host to Luton, with Paul Heckingbottom in the Deepdale dugout for the first time since the start of the Championship season. The team suffered a crushing 3-0 loss at Swansea on Saturday. Subsequently, No. 2 Mike Marsh resigned from his position before the press conference. Ryan Lowe left last Monday.
The former manager of Sheffield United and Leeds stated the following in his opening remarks on the team’s social media accounts: “I don’t want to be bored standing at the sidelines.” The fact that Preston has not scored a goal in their last seven league games serves as a barometer for Heckingbottom’s task.
Stuart McCall will provide assistance to Heckingbottom. “I’m really delighted with it, ready to go and champing at the bit. It’s a club I know well for lots of reasons and a league I know well, so it was a pretty easy decision.”
“Experience is key. Knowing the players helps and then having success in this league helps, so we know what it takes to compete. We know what it takes to do well and you can give that clear direction to try and get there.
“The short-term goals are to get back on track. Longer-term, we want to be a really, really competitive team in this league.”
Heckingbottom, who won promotion to the Championship with Barnsley in 2016, had a short and challenging stint at Leeds United, where he was dismissed after just four months. He later guided Sheffield United back to the Premier League in 2023, but his time there ended in December when the club was sitting at the bottom of the table. Following his departure, he took on the managerial role at Preston North End, aiming to turn around the team’s fortunes after a difficult start to the season.
Preston fans grew increasingly frustrated with Lowe after a lengthy losing streak, and criticism has also been directed at the club’s management for failing to secure crucial signings. Lowe’s tactics relied on wing-backs, but the team needed more specialists in those positions.
In this transfer window, the club has signed Sam Greenwood and Kaine Kesler-Hayden on loan, along with Stefan Thordarson and Jeppe Okkels on permanent deals, and Heckingbottom is actively seeking further reinforcements.
He told the Lancashire Post: “[The window] is something I want to try and capitalize on if we can. There are always factors which dictate whether you can or not, but certainly we are going to work as hard as we possibly can to do that. It would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t. Until that window closes, we will be looking to do things.”
The board was criticized when Lowe left the team so early in the season following a home loss to Sheffield United. Many fans expressed dissatisfaction, saying something should have been done at the end of the previous campaign. Even though there were other, less experienced applicants, like former Manchester City coach Brian Barry-Murphy, it seems they have opted for caution—possibly to allay further resentment if the risk proves unsuccessful.
The Preston director, Peter Ridsdale, said: “We identified that we wanted Paul to be the man to take us forward and moved swiftly over the weekend. We met on Sunday, finalized the details late [on Monday] night and he’s here with us today, ready to get to work.
“I’m now looking forward with confidence with Paul and Stuart McCall in charge and I think all Preston North End fans can be really excited about the season ahead.”
Following those two opening losses, Preston is currently second-bottom in the Championship based on goal differential.
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