Preston sack Paul Heckingbottom after Lincoln defeat

Preston North End have sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom with the club second-bottom of the Championship, England's second tier.

The decision followed a 1-0 home defeat by Lincoln City at Deepdale, Preston's home ground. That was Heckingbottom's final game in charge, according to BBC Sport.

It was Preston's sixth defeat in seven league games. The run left them stuck in the relegation places early in the season, with pressure building around Deepdale.

The longer form made difficult reading too. Preston won only five of 27 league games since the start of January under Heckingbottom. For a club that prides itself on being steady and hard to beat, that is a sharp drop.

Heckingbottom was appointed in August 2024. He took charge of 109 games in total, a spell of just over two years.

Assistant manager Stuart McCall has also left the club. First-team coach Jason Euell will take interim charge while Preston search for a successor.

Euell's first test is a trip to QPR. It comes quickly, with Preston needing points and a lift.

For fans, this means a reset before autumn truly sets in. A new voice on the training pitch. A chance for players on the edge of the team to impress. And for supporters who travel in numbers, hope that the mood can shift fast.

Preston are one of the Championship's ever-present names, a club with deep roots in the English game. They will not want to spend long looking up at the rest of the table.