Preston North End Could Have the Pulling Power to Attract Steven Gerrard

 

Preston North End have officially ended Paul Heckingbottom’s tenure as head coach following a disappointing start to the 2026/27 Championship campaign. The decision comes after the club managed just one victory from their opening seven league fixtures, a run of results that left Preston struggling near the bottom of the table.

 

Heckingbottom has become the first Championship manager to lose his job this season, with Preston deciding to make a change after a poor sequence of results. Despite significant investment during the summer transfer window, including a club-record deal for Alfie Devine and total spending of more than £15 million, the team have failed to produce the improvement that was expected.

 

The Lilywhites have suffered six defeats in their first seven league matches, with only one victory to their name. That extremely poor record ultimately convinced the Preston hierarchy that a change in the dugout was necessary.

 

With Heckingbottom now gone, Preston are expected to begin their search for a replacement immediately. The club will need to carefully assess the available candidates before deciding who they believe is capable of turning the team’s fortunes around and leading them in a new direction.

 

Why Preston North End Decided to Sack Paul Heckingbottom

 

Heckingbottom’s departure is not solely the result of Preston’s poor opening to the current season. His overall record during the latter stages of his time at Deepdale had already raised significant concerns.

 

The 49-year-old manager experienced an extremely difficult final period in charge, collecting just 26 points from his final 29 league matches. During that run, Preston were beaten on 17 occasions and managed to keep only one clean sheet across their final 27 league fixtures.

 

Although Heckingbottom was given considerable backing by the club during the summer, including substantial funds to strengthen the squad, there were few indications that the team’s performances were moving in the right direction.

 

Across his 109 matches in charge of Preston North End, Heckingbottom recorded 33 victories, 35 draws and 41 defeats. With results continuing to deteriorate and the team showing little sign of improvement, the club eventually decided that a managerial change was unavoidable.

 

Steven Gerrard Emerges as a Potential Candidate

 

Attention will now turn towards the identity of Heckingbottom’s successor, with several managerial names expected to be linked with the vacant position.

 

One particularly high-profile name that has already been mentioned is Steven Gerrard.

 

The former Liverpool and England midfielder has been without a managerial position since leaving Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq in January 2025. Gerrard previously enjoyed considerable success with Rangers, where he guided the Scottish club to the Scottish Premiership title, before taking charge of Aston Villa in the Premier League.

 

A move to Preston would represent a new challenge for Gerrard. He has never previously managed in the Championship, nor did he play in the division during his illustrious playing career. Taking charge of Preston would therefore provide him with his first direct experience of one of English football’s most competitive leagues.

 

However, the major question is whether Preston possess enough attraction to convince a manager of Gerrard’s profile to take the job.

 

Preston Believed to Have the Pulling Power for a Big-Name Manager

 

Football League World’s Preston North End fan pundit, Darren Watson, believes the club should not underestimate its ability to attract a manager of Gerrard’s calibre.

 

Watson argued that Preston’s position as a Championship club makes the job an appealing proposition for ambitious managers. Although the Championship is extremely difficult to navigate, it also provides managers with a direct route towards the Premier League, which remains one of the biggest attractions in English football.

 

According to Watson, Preston’s status as a historic club, combined with their position just one division below the Premier League, could make the vacancy attractive to both British and overseas managers.

 

The Championship is widely regarded as one of the most competitive divisions in football because of the difficulty involved in earning promotion. At the same time, however, the potential reward is enormous. A successful manager can guide a club into the Premier League, bringing greater financial resources, exposure and prestige.

 

Watson therefore believes Preston should be capable of attracting a high-profile appointment.

 

He also pointed out that the Championship currently contains several managers with impressive reputations, while others have gone on to establish themselves successfully in the Premier League after gaining experience in the second tier.

 

Watson said that Preston’s long history should also work in the club’s favour. He believes the Lilywhites need someone capable of changing the direction of the team and restoring optimism among supporters.

 

Steven Gerrard is one of the names being discussed, although another potential candidate is Graham Alexander. Alexander has a strong connection with Preston, having previously played for the club, and is currently managing Bradford City.

 

From Watson’s perspective, even if Preston were unable to secure a manager as famous as Gerrard, the club should still be an appealing destination for a number of ambitious coaches.

 

The possibility of promotion to the Premier League gives the next manager a significant incentive. If the right appointment can be made, Preston could potentially use the remainder of the campaign to rebuild their confidence before mounting a stronger promotion challenge in the following season.

 

Preston Must Get Their Next Appointment Right

 

Despite the excitement surrounding the possibility of appointing someone such as Steven Gerrard, Preston cannot afford to focus solely on the manager’s reputation. Their next appointment needs to be the right one for the club’s specific circumstances.

 

The team have already endured a poor start to the campaign, and another managerial mistake could make their situation considerably worse. Preston must find someone capable of immediately improving performances, restoring confidence within the squad and moving the club away from danger.

 

There was already concern surrounding Preston’s league position after they flirted with relegation to League One in 2025. A continuation of their current form could once again leave them looking over their shoulders at the wrong end of the Championship table.

 

There has, however, been at least one encouraging moment this season. Preston demonstrated considerable determination when they defeated Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers to claim all three points. Although that victory has not yet sparked a sustained improvement in results, it provides supporters with evidence that the squad is capable of producing positive performances.

 

The challenge now is finding a manager who can make those performances more consistent.

 

Whether Steven Gerrard would ultimately be the ideal candidate remains uncertain. His experience at Rangers, Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq means he has managed at a high level, but the Championship would provide him with an entirely different challenge.

 

Preston are expected to work quickly on compiling a shortlist of possible replacements for Heckingbottom. Gerrard’s name could well feature prominently on that list, particularly if the club believes its history, Championship status and Premier League ambitions give it enough appeal to convince a manager of his stature.

 

Ultimately, Preston’s priority must be to make the correct decision rather than simply appoint the biggest name available. The new manager will be tasked with stabilising the club, improving results and performances, and potentially laying the foundations for a future promotion challenge.

 

If Preston can make the right appointment, the current crisis could eventually become the starting point for a much more positive period at Deepdale.