Preston appoint Heckingbottom as boss

Preston North End have appointed former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom as their manager.

The 47-year-old guided the Blades to promotion to the Premier League in 2022-23 but was sacked last December.

He replaces Ryan Lowe, who left the Lancashire side by mutual consent after their opening weekend home Championship defeat by Sheffield United.

Heckingbottom, who will be assisted by Stuart McCall, will take charge of the team for the first time in Saturday's home game against Luton.

"It's a club I know well for lots of reasons and a league I know well, so it was a pretty easy decision," Heckingbottom told the club website., external

"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, and that's the aim.

"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 started his managerial career at Barnsley and led them to promotion from League One and success in the EFL Trophy.

He had brief spells with Leeds and Hibernian before joining the coaching staff at Sheffield United.

After a caretaker spell in 2020-21, he was appointed as manager in November 2021 and guided them to a play-off finish that season.

Despite off-field issues, he then led them to second place in the Championship in 2022-23, as well as an FA Cup semi-final appearance.

However, they struggled to strengthen last summer and he was sacked in December with the team having lost 11 of their first 14 league matches.

Preston are 23rd in the table after losing their opening two league games.

Including last season, they are on a club-record run of seven successive league defeats without scoring.

Mike Marsh was in caretaker charge for the 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Sunderland and the 3-0 reverse at Swansea on Saturday but stepped down from the role afterwards.

Lowe had been at Deepdale since arriving from Plymouth in December 2021, and finished 13th, 12th and 10th in the second tier during his time in charge, but left after discussions with the club's board.

"He told me he wanted a break, a change. We've accepted that and shaken hands and we agreed on what basis he goes," director Peter Risdale told BBC Radio Lancashire at the time.

More to follow.