The League Paper

SUMMER FAILINGS HAUNTED HECKY’S SAD PNE

by
The Football League Paper Team
20 September 2026

EXIT: Paul Heckingbottom

PAUL Heckingbottom was sacked by Preston after the Lily-whites lost six of their first seven games.
But the real damage was done in the summer. For all the money they spent on new players, I just don’t think their recruitment was good enough.
Yes, Alfie Devine did well on loan last summer. But he’s still a 22-year-old finding his feet in the game and a loan is very different to bearing all the expectation and responsibility that comes with a £6m transfer fee.
For that sort of money, a club of Preston’s resources need you to hit th...

Continue reading...

Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per day!

Already a subscriber to our website? Login

Read our latest news on any of these social networks!

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Football League Newsletter Today!

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

More in The League Paper

Dean Brennan urges Barnet to attract more fans as Bees chase League Two promotion

Dean Brennan wants Barnet to build on their promotion push by bringing more supporters through the gates, pointing to Bromley’s growth as an example of what can be achieved off the pitch.
Stoke City 2-0 Preston: Mark Robins wants more clinical edge despite Potters’ victory

Ben Wilmot and Jack McGlynn secured a seventh win in ten league games, but Stoke missed several chances to make the scoreline more emphatic.
BRIAN IS GUTTED AFTER BIG LOSS

CARDIFF head coach Brian Barry-Murphy admitted his side were beaten against a well-oiled Wolves side. The Bluebirds headed into the clash on a three-game unbeaten run, but were unable to find a foothold to realistically extend that. Fer Lopez’s diving header bulleted the hosts in front and a second soon...
Wareham proves his worth for Chairboys

By Gareth Davies LEAGUE ONE LEICESTER CITY 2 WYCOMBE W 2 Wareham 21, Woodrow 53 WYCOMBE: Hazard 7, Grimmer 7 (Casey 68, 6) Taylor 8, Hagelskjaer 7, Harvie 7, Scowen 7, Boyd-Munce 7, Onyedinma 8, Woodrow 8 (Ings 68, 7) Mothersille 7 (Leahy 67, 7) Wareham 8. Subs not used:...