Paul Heckingbottom Appointed as New Manager of Preston North End

Paul Heckingbottom Appointed as Preston North End Manager

Preston North End, a club in the Championship, has officially appointed Paul Heckingbottom as their new manager. This decision comes after a brief managerial search following the departure of Ryan Lowe, who left the club by mutual consent just three days into the new season.

Heckingbottom's Previous Experience

Heckingbottom, 47, has a wealth of experience in football management. He most recently managed Sheffield United and led them to the Premier League during the 2022/23 season. However, his tenure came to an end in December when he was sacked after the club found itself at the bottom of the league table.

His Vision for Preston North End

Upon taking the role, Heckingbottom expressed his excitement: "I'm really delighted with it, ready to go, and champing at the bit, really. It's a club I know well for lots of reasons and a league I know well, so it was a pretty easy decision." He emphasized the importance of experience in the league, stating, "Experience is key. Knowing the players helps, and then having success in this league helps, so we know what it takes to compete." He set short-term goals of getting the club back on track while aiming for long-term competitiveness within the league.

Coaching Staff and Upcoming Matches

Heckingbottom will work alongside Stuart McCall as his assistant. The duo will lead Preston in their upcoming Championship fixture against Luton Town at home on Saturday. Currently, Preston North End finds themselves second from bottom in the league after suffering losses in their first two league matches. However, the team did achieve a victory in the Carabao Cup under interim manager Mike Marsh, defeating Sunderland 2-0.

Comments from Preston's Director

Preston director Peter Ridsdale expressed his satisfaction with the hiring, stating, "I'm delighted that Paul Heckingbottom has joined us as first team manager. We identified that we wanted Paul to be the man to take us forward and moved swiftly over the weekend." Ridsdale conveyed optimism for the season ahead under Heckingbottom and McCall's leadership, insisting that fans can look forward to a competitive presence in the league.

Heckingbottom's Career Highlights

• Promoted Barnsley to the Championship via the League One play-offs in 2016.
• Took charge of Leeds United, but was dismissed after just four months.
• Spent nine months at Hibernian before moving to Sheffield United as U23 head coach.
• Advanced to first-team managerial duties in Sheffield, stepping in for Chris Wilder.

Conclusion

As Preston North End embarks on this new chapter with Heckingbottom, the club's supporters are hopeful for improvements in performance and a drive toward a successful season. Time will tell how the team adapts to the new leadership and vision set forth by their newly appointed manager.