Former Hibs boss sacked by English club seven games into season as unacceptable results blasted
The former Hibs boss has managed Leeds United, Sheffield United and more.
A former Hibs manager has been sacked in his most recent English Championship job.
Paul Heckingbottom moved to Easter Road in the second half of the 2018/19 season after stints in England with Barnsley and Leeds United. He lasted less than a year in the Hibs dugout during a disappointing stint but rebuilt his stock with Sheffield United and has been at fellow Championship side Preston North End since 2024.
A 1-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Lincoln City has brought an end to his tenure just seven league games into the season after one win and six losses. Former Rangers and Motherwell boss Stuart McCall was his assistant manager and he is also moving on from Deepdale upon the ex-Hibs, Leeds United and Sheffield United gaffer’s dismissal. Preston are next in action against QPR on Saturday before a three-week international break will allow them time to hunt a new leader.
Why have Preston sacked Paul Heckingbottom?
Providing a statement on the sacking, Preston state: “Preston North End Football Club have today taken the decision to part company with Paul Heckingbottom as First Team Football Manager. Football is a results business and despite significant investment in the playing squad since Paul joined, the results during 2026 and the start of this current campaign have not been acceptable.
“Paul leaves us with our thanks and best wishes. His professionalism and work ethic during his time with us have been second to none. As a result of this decision Stuart McCall has also left the Club today. We similarly thank Stuart for his contribution over the last two years and wish him all the best for the future.
“We will now look to appoint a new manager as soon as possible but until such time as we do Jason Euell will take charge of first team matters on an interim basis.”
What did Paul Heckingbottom say before Preston sacking?
Heckingbottom said after Saturday’s defeat at Lincoln that was met with booing: “Yes, I understand, you can't hide away from it. As I say, it's a results business. There's only one way to stop it and that's to win the games.
“We've sort of got to look beyond that and see what can we control, what can we do well. “There's good bits from that game that we did well, and we matched Lincoln’s desire in key moments, but they were really effective, or more effective. When you're doing this job, you understand that. I'm not one who gets carried away talking about philosophy, styles of play and tries to hide behind that. You've got to try and win games, that's it.”
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