Preston North End

Earlier, we asked what North End fans thought of the decision to bring Graham Alexander and assistant Chris Lucketti back to the club in a bid to help them climb away from the Championship relegation zone.

Here are some of your responses:

Bill: Quite honestly, I find this appointment underwhelming to say the least. The fact it's taken so long to make an appointment after Paul Heckingbottom's departure suggests that Alexander was not the first choice, or maybe not even second choice.

Having said all that, there's no doubt he has a real affinity with the club and if he fails, it won't be through the want of hard work. All we, as supporters, can do is get behind him and the players and hope for a rapid rise up the table.

Gary: Glad to see him back, what a great guy and PNE through and through, but only time and a good January transfer window will say if this is the right appointment. There's a lot of hard work and long weeks ahead.

Image source, Getty Images

Jim: Unproven in the Championship but the new management team have Preston North End running through them. We have huge problems at the back and Grezza and Chris were both defenders for us which bodes well. A risky appointment perhaps but given the last five years they have nothing to lose. I'm sort of optimistic I think. Attack is the best form of defence, however, and this is something we have been starved of for years so I'm hoping, once the type of system he opts for is addressed, that we might be entertained.

Martin: Top appointment: club legend Graham Alexander will get us where we want to be. I believe he's got the job on merit too. He's been a great manager so far. Bringing Lucketti as his assistant is just the icing on the cake, great to see.

Graham: Pleased with the appointments, now is the time to get behind the team and let's forget about all the negativity surrounding a few of the previous managers.

Pete: Grezza has always been a natural born winner and leader. He adores the club, fans adore him. Bags of management experience in different leagues and different situations. Now is the perfect time to bring him back. A truly exciting appointment and absolutely the right one. The club has badly needed a character like him in the set up for a number of years.

Former Preston goalkeeper and coach Alan Kelly says the club's appointment of new boss Graham Alexander and assistant Chris Lucketti is "a very wise choice".

The former North End team-mates have returned to Deepdale with the Lilywhites sat second-bottom of the Championship with four points from eight games, in the process leaving their roles at Bradford City, who are top of League One.

Alexander made more than 370 appearances across two spells with North End as a player, nearly 200 of them in the same side as his now assistant Lucketti.

Kelly told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's an excellent appointment. A very wise choice. I don't see it as a bad selection, it's only good news.

"They know what it's like to run out at Deepdale, they know what the crowd expect, what to give the supporters, if you understand that it gives you a head start and an advantage."

Kelly predicted Alexander will "want to get down to business" on the training pitch before his first game, at home to Millwall on 10 October - which will be his 55th birthday.

He added: "I'm sure when they walk out against Millwall the pride they'll have walking down that touchline, having been there as players, will shine out.

"Deepdale will rise to him, welcome back a former hero - two of them.

"When he walks out that tunnel for the first time to take that applause, I don't think he shows his emotions very easily, Graham, but I think he'll have a lump in the back of his throat.

"Thinking wow, all those years ago I made my debut as a player for Preston to now be walking out and leading the club, that has to tug at your heartstrings."

Graham Alexander returns to Preston North End in a bid to help them climb away from the Championship relegation zone.

The 54-year-old made 400 appearances for the Lilywhites as a player across all competitions and is now in the Deepdale dugout after a successful spell at Bradford City.

But even with all his history at the club, is he the man you would have wanted?

Let us know your thoughts here and come back later to see some of your responses.

We asked for your thoughts after 10-man Queens Park Rangers came back to snatch a late 2-2 draw at home to Preston North End.

Here are some of your comments:

Queens Park Rangers fans

John: A determined team effort in the second half with only 10 men after 15 minutes. Well deserved point. There's a togetherness about this squad that hasn't been there for a number of seasons.

Barry: Thrilled with that. QPR finally look to have a sense of self-belief. They're now playing good possession football from the back, not aimlessly hoofing it up the park. Skill levels in tight situations have improved out of sight and more steel in their game. Think they do need a striker though. Ten men for almost all of the game, great comeback.

Malcolm: Ridiculous decision re the red card, desperately hope QPR appeal. Showed fighting spirit to get a point but horrendous again how many shots we have and how many are on target - 30 shots only 6 on target - that's just nowhere near good enough and it's a consistent weakness.

Peter: Can we get some more shooting practice, and give the opposition something to think about. That and a bit of variety with the free-kicks.

Alan: Much being made of the second half fight and determination, team spirit etc. Shouldn't that be the case at 14.59pm?

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End fans

Chris: Preston capitulated after 60 minutes, obvious majority of players weren't fit enough and QPR's energy levels were superior. PNE couldn't cope with wave after wave of attacks. Two good goals and some woeful defending by Preston. If it wasn't for Daniel Iverson PNE would have lost this game. PNE's stand in manager got his tactical subs wrong. Too little too late. Get working on fitness and appointing a manager who can make a difference at this level.

Roy: Preston's Achilles heel in evidence yet again, even against 10 men. Can never hold on to a lead and specialise in giving up midfield domination to invite far too much pressure from the opposition when leading a game. We've seen this for so many matches.

Fred: It's a point against a side near the top, away from home. Very frustrating at the end though.

Carl: This is starting to look like an expensively assembled train wreck for PNE, players who cannot manage a full 90 minutes without folding. The new manager will have his work cut out for him!

Paul: Change is needed quick and a new manager and whole back room staff. 15 million down the toilet as we are bound for League One. It took us nearly four years to get out last time.

Preston North End interim manager Jason Euell spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after Paul Smyth's late equaliser denied the Lilywhites only their second win of the season.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston interim manager Jason Euell says he is "excited" to take charge of the team against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 BST) - North End's first match since the exit of boss Paul Heckingbottom.

The club sacked Heckingbottom on Sunday after six defeats in their opening seven Championship games.

"All eyes are on me as the man at the front but I've got no issue with that," Euell, 49, said.

"I've got big shoulders. It's not like I've not lead a team before - yes, it's at a different level, a different stake.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend in a way of putting things right that haven't been good."

However, while the former Jamaica international wants to make his mark, he is also looking to be selective about what he adjusts as Preston bid for their second league win of the campaign.

"From me getting the call on Sunday knowing there is a game on Saturday, yes, you want to change some things but you can't change loads of things in a short space of time," Euell added.

"It's got to be a change for the players, not something I want. Is there something they might need to see different, hear different or do different?"

Watch the full interview with BBC Radio Lancashire above or listen on BBC Sounds here.

Preston North End take on their first match since sacking boss Paul Heckingbottom on Saturday (15:00 BST) and it's a tough one.

They make the trip to Loftus Road to visit a Queens Park Rangers side two points off league leaders West Ham United after conceding just one loss in six games.

• QPR are unbeaten in six league games against Preston (W4 D2), although both meetings last season were 1-1 draws.

• Preston have lost four of their last seven league visits to Queens Park Rangers (W2 D1), failing to win their last three (D1 L2).

• Only Preston (9) have lost more Championship home games in 2026 than QPR (8). It's more home league defeats than the Hoops suffered in the entirety of 2025 (7).

• Preston have lost six of their seven Championship games this season (W1); never in their history have they lost as many as seven of their first eight matches of a league campaign.

• Preston (-4.2) and QPR (-2.7) are two of the four biggest underperformers when it comes to xG differential between goals scored and xG in the Championship this season, with Cardiff (-5.6) and Lincoln (-2.8) making up the bottom four.

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by former Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town defender Luke Chambers to chat all things EFL in the latest episode of the 72+.

What next for Preston after they sacked Paul Heckingbottom? How far can Lincoln go after a strong start to the season?

Saturday sees Millwall face West Ham for the first time since 2012 and Lions defender Caleb Taylor joins the pod to talk their London derby.

Shrewsbury look set to be the latest EFL club with American owners as BBC Radio Shropshire's Nick Southall explains how Brad Friedel is involved.

Listen to the full episode above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Jack Bridge
Fan writer & commentator

There is a temptation, when a manager is sacked after six defeats in seven games, to look at the final result and say - well, what did you expect?

For North End supporters, though, Paul Heckingbottom's departure is about much more than a dreadful start to the 2026-27 Championship season. In fact, we've been watching it happen for the best part of a year.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing of all is that, for a while, Heckingbottom showed us just how good we could be.

The first half of 2025-26 gave us something we hadn't had enough of for a long time... belief.

After 26 games, North End were fourth in the Championship on 43 points. Only Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Coventry had collected more.

We looked organised. We were competitive. We had players capable of changing games.

Harrison Armstrong, Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin gave the side an attacking threat that had been badly lacking in the previous campaign, while Daniel Iversen brought a calmness behind them.

This wasn't a squad that spent the entire Heckingbottom era looking like relegation candidates.

The problem is that his best side lasted half a season. His worst side arrived immediately afterwards and the decline never really stopped.

Image source, Getty Images

He leaves with 109 competitive games under his belt - 30 wins, 38 draws and 41 defeats. A win rate of just over 27%.

As a North End fan, I think it was inevitable.

However, that isn't because Heckingbottom is a terrible manager, nor because every problem at Deepdale can be laid at his door.

I do think the whole situation has been made worse by the uncertainty surrounding a potential takeover.

The club's recruitment and ownership decisions should not escape scrutiny. If anything, these are areas that need fixing, and they need fixing quickly.

It had to happen because the evidence had become overwhelming and the voices from the Deepdale terraces on Saturday were swiftly acted upon.

When a team loses 17 of 27 league games from the start of a calendar year, then loses six of its first seven the following season, eventually something has to change.

Now comes the difficult bit.

Heckingbottom leaves with North End sitting 23rd, a squad that has been heavily rebuilt, but somehow still feels like it needs more, frustrated supporters and a Championship table that already has us playing catch-up.

The next appointment needs to be the right one. The takeover saga needs to be resolved, one way or another, and most importantly, we need to get back to doing what we all want to see... winning football matches.

So, what is the legacy of Heckingbottom at Deepdale? For me, it is one of frustration.

He showed us how close we could get. For a while, he gave us genuine reason to believe that this could finally be the season we challenged at the right end of the table.

But then, he couldn't find a way to keep us there.

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Image source, Shutterstock

Paul Heckingbottom was sacked as Preston North End manager after the 1-0 home loss to Lincoln City on Saturday.

That result was a sixth defeat in seven Championship games so far this season for the Lilywhites, who are second from bottom.

We asked who you would like to replace Heckingbottom. Here are a selection of your responses.

Chris M: Well his record speaks for itself, he's statistically our worst ever manager. This way we have time to save the season. Rob Edwards for me.

Tony: As a PNE season ticket holder it came as no surprise. The football the second half of last season was dire. It had been a little better this season but it is a results business and 5 wins in 29 matches is unacceptable. Someone like Graham Alexander or Sean Dyche would suit me.

Phil: Unfortunately it's not worked out for him but his yearly record was very poor. Dave Challinor is available he did a really good job at Stockport.

David: Scott Parker has a good track record and did a great job at Burnley. Sacking of any manager is sad but Heckingbottom can't complain. Only other thought is that he should have been followed to the job centre by Peter Ridsdale.

Ian: Hecks had to go as this is a results business and the hangover from last season has followed us into this with no improvement in results. Would like to see Graham Alexander back, he understands Preston as a club.

Chris B: Gary Rowett or Alex Neil I think would be a good fit for Preston. They can get Preston up and running pretty quickly and this is the perfect time to get either of these guys to sort North End out.

Stu: Dave Challinor. Local-ish manager. Never finished outside of the play-offs albeit in the lower leagues. Deserves a chance at this level.

Mike: His record over the last two seasons has been awful. Too many unconvincing substitutions have lost matches. Purchase of two recent forwards very poor quality. Roll on Sean Dyche.

Andrew: The club need fresh ideas, someone that's attack minded and forward thinking. Steve Cooper would be amazing, I'd even take Wayne Rooney if he had other experienced heads around him like Big Dunc [Ferguson] and David Unsworth.

Adam: Feel for Hecky but did feel inevitable after the weekend. The squad is more than good enough to sustain another Championship season really but results have not shown that so far. Steve Cooper would be my ideal replacement out of the names I've seen. Carlos Corberan just came out of a job too but might be too expensive for PNE.

Ahmed: Get Steven Gerrard in. He can do a Lampard. Preston not far from Liverpool. Close ties with Liverpool. Do not want to see the same old faces recycled.

James: I'm not a Preston fan but one name stands out for me and whilst it may be a long shot, Kieran McKenna would seem the perfect appointment and no doubt would make an instant impact.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Lincoln City.

"It was no surprise in terms of how difficult that game was and the pattern of the game. We are really frustrated that 90 per cent of the time their threats, because we limited the number of corners and set-plays, we did deal with them," he said.

"But it's ultimately their biggest weapon and while we are not getting in front, they are going to have their opportunities with counter-attacks and set-plays.

"The only way to stop that noise (sounds of boos from some fans) at the end of the game is to win games.

"There is no lack of effort, I get that, but we are not the ones forcing the big moments to go our way."

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says their poor start to the Championship season has taken him by surprise - but insists performances are improving.

The Lilywhites are bottom of the table after suffering five defeats and picking up just one win in their opening six games.

North End ended a run of four straight losses by beating Blackburn in the Lancashire derby last weekend but gave up a lead to lose 2-1 at Watford on Tuesday night, despite creating 2.44 expected goals (xG) - 1.18 xG more than the Hornets.

"I knew at the start it was going to be difficult but we've gradually got better each game," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire before Saturday's clash with newly promoted Lincoln City at Deepdale (15:00 BST).

"I can't say we're not frustrated, all of us are, but likewise you can't say that you've watched the games and not seen improvements every week and we should have had more points.

"But it's shoulda, woulda, coulda. You get what you deserve ultimately, regardless of the level of performance."

Heckingbottom said scoring more goals is the responsibility of the whole team and not just the forwards.

The 49-year-old also emphasised that he is not going to give up on trying to play attacking football just to grind out results.

"There's no way I'm going to park everyone in our box to try and keep a clean sheet," he added.

"You have to attack together, you've got to defend together and that'll never change."

Defender Andrija Vukcevic is expected to be fit for Saturday despite going off at Vicarage Road in midweek, while Brad Potts, who has missed the start of the season with injury, is back in training.

Captain Ali McCann will be out for several months after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury.

Image source, Opta

Bottom side Preston North End host newly promoted Lincoln City in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Lilywhites have won one and lost five of their opening six games, while the Imps have also picked up one victory so far (D2 L2) in their first season in the second tier since 1961.

• This will be the first season in which Preston and Lincoln City have faced in the league since 1998-99, when the Lilywhites completed a league double over the Imps.

• Lincoln City have won just one of their past 10 league matches against Preston (D3 L6), a 2-1 away win in August 1995.

• With three points, this is Preston's joint-lowest points tally after their first six games of a league season since 1930 (assuming 3 pts/win all-time), also having three at this stage in 2010-11 and 2016-17.

• Lincoln City are the lowest scorers in the Championship this season with four goals – their joint-fewest after their opening five games of a league campaign since returning to the EFL in 2017 (also four goals in 2021-22 and 2022-23).

• Preston have lost both of their previous two league games against newly promoted opponents, last losing three in a row in February 2013.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom lamented his side's defending after they let a lead slip in the 2-1 defeat by Watford.

North End led at half-time thanks to Callum Lang's goal but a slack clearance from midfielder Alfie Devine allowed Edo Kayembe to equalise before Mamadou Doumbia headed Watford's winner.

"You get what you deserve regardless of performance levels. We should have been out of sight and I felt really comfortable right up to them scoring," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's very similar [to other performances this season]. That's the frustrating bit. Bristol City was similar.

"People I've just seen up there asked, 'How have you not seen that out?' But those goals [conceded] are really poor and unless we as a group sort that, we're not going to get what we deserve from games."