Imagine experiencing the upheaval of three managers in just two weeks. Now, picture this happening after only two games into the season. Welcome to Preston North End, a club that has remained in the mid-tier of the EFL Championship for several years.
Ryan Lowe, who previously managed Preston NE to a 10th-place finish last season, was the first to exit, leaving after just one game this season. According to the club’s director, Lowe requested a break and chose to depart.
“I believe it’s the right time for the club to pursue a new direction. I’ve always stated that if I couldn’t advance the club further, I would step aside,” Lowe mentioned in his statement post-departure. The timing of Lowe’s exit and his replacement’s short tenure seem questionable, as his successor, Mike Marsh, also departed after just one game.
Marsh resigned following a 3-0 defeat against Swansea on Saturday, marking Preston’s seventh consecutive league loss, all without scoring. Enter Paul Heckingbottom, who has been announced as the new manager at Deepdale.
Heckingbottom boasts a solid track record, having achieved promotion with Sheffield United in the 2022-23 season before parting ways with the club while they were at the bottom of the Premier League. He has also managed Barnsley and Leeds.
While it’s a reasonable appointment, there’s enough time in the season for Heckingbottom to make an impact. However, whether this will transform Preston North End into playoff contenders remains uncertain.