Preston sack Paul Heckingbottom after six defeats in seven league games

Preston North End have dismissed manager Paul Heckingbottom after losing six of their first seven Championship matches, BBC Sport reported on Sunday. The decision follows Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Lincoln City, which left Preston second bottom and drew boos from supporters at Deepdale.

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Heckingbottom's departure ends a tenure that began in August 2024 and lasted 109 matches. According to the BBC, Preston have won only five of their 27 league fixtures since January. Assistant Stuart McCall has also departed, while coach Jason Euell will oversee the team on an interim basis.

In a statement carried by the BBC, Preston said results had fallen below expectations despite investment in the squad. The club nevertheless thanked Heckingbottom for his work and praised his professionalism.

The dismissal follows a week in which Preston also lost a lead at Watford. In its report published by The Irish News, Press Association Sport described how Callum Lang put the visitors ahead after six minutes with his third goal in two matches. Watford recovered to win 2-1, with Edo Kayembe equalising in the 69th minute before Mamadou Doumbia headed the winner seven minutes later from an Iker Bravo cross. That defeat was Preston's fifth in six league games.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire after that match, in comments reproduced by PA, Heckingbottom blamed missed opportunities and the defending for both goals. He said Preston had been comfortable before conceding and should already have established a larger advantage. Watford manager Alessio Dionisi had made three substitutions at the interval, including introducing Othmane Maamma, whose cross created Kayembe's equaliser. Dionisi also credited goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia with limiting Preston's first-half scoring. The turnaround left Heckingbottom reflecting on chances his players had failed to convert and defensive situations he believed they should have handled.

Euell's immediate assignment is Saturday's trip to QPR, ahead of a three-week international break. He takes over with Preston seeking a response to successive defeats and a change in their early-season results.