Heckingbottom legacy 'one of frustration'

[BBC] There is a temptation, when a manager is sacked after six defeats in seven games, to look at the final result and say - well, what did you expect? For North End supporters, though, Paul Heckingbottom's departure is about much more than a dreadful start to the 2026-27 Championship season. In fact, we've been watching it happen for the best part of a year. Perhaps the most frustrating thing of all is that, for a while, Heckingbottom showed us just how good we could be. The first half of 2025-26 gave us something we hadn't had enough of for a long time... belief. After 26 games, North End were fourth in the Championship on 43 points. Only Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Coventry had collected more. We looked organised. We were competitive. We had players capable of changing games. Harrison Armstrong, Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin gave the side an attacking threat that had been badly lacking in the previous campaign, while Daniel Iversen brought a calmness behind them. This wasn't a squad that spent the entire Heckingbottom era looking like relegation candidates. The problem is that his best side lasted half a season. His worst side arrived immediately afterwards and the decline never really stopped. [Getty Images] He leaves with 109 competitive games under his belt - 30 wins, 38 draws and 41 defeats. A win rate of just over 27%. As a North End fan, I think it was inevitable. However, that isn't because Heckingbottom is a terrible manager, nor because every problem at Deepdale can be laid at his door. I do think the whole situation has been made worse by the uncertainty surrounding a potential takeover. The club's recruitment and ownership decisions should not escape scrutiny. If anything, these are areas that need fixing, and they need fixing quickly. It had to happen because the evidence had become overwhelming and the voices from the Deepdale terraces on Saturday were swiftly acted upon. When a team loses 17 of 27 league games from the start of a calendar year, then loses six of its first seven the following season, eventually something has to change. Now comes the difficult bit. Heckingbottom leaves with North End sitting 23rd, a squad that has been heavily rebuilt, but somehow still feels like it needs more, frustrated supporters and a Championship table that already has us playing catch-up. The next appointment needs to be the right one. The takeover saga needs to be resolved, one way or another, and most importantly, we need to get back to doing what we all want to see... winning football matches. So, what is the legacy of Heckingbottom at Deepdale? For me, it is one of frustration. He showed us how close we could get. For a while, he gave us genuine reason to believe that this could finally be the season we challenged at the right end of the table. But then, he couldn't find a way to keep us there. Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest Preston North End news. Latest Preston North End news, analysis and fan views