Preston North End must consider these two potential Paul Heckingbottom successors

Preston North End have confirmed the departure of head coach Paul Heckingbottom after Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Lincoln City.

The decisive moment came in the 81st minute when Freddie Draper found the net at Deepdale, securing all three points for the Imps and bringing Heckingbottom’s time in charge to an end.

The 49-year-old manager had spent two years at the club after being appointed in August 2024. During his 109 matches in charge, he guided Preston to 30 victories.

Preston finished 20th and 14th in Heckingbottom’s two full seasons at the helm. However, their start to the 2026/27 campaign has been poor, with the Lilywhites managing just one win from their first seven league matches.

The Lancashire club have suffered defeats in their other six games and currently sit 23rd in the table, with only Burnley below them.

Following Heckingbottom’s exit, Preston will now begin the search for a new manager. Here are three potential candidates the club could consider.

Jon Dahl Tomasson

Jon Dahl Tomasson is currently without a club after leaving his position as Sweden manager in 2025.

The former Denmark international already has experience of English football, having previously managed Preston’s Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers. That connection should not necessarily rule him out of a potential move to Deepdale.

Tomasson guided Blackburn to a seventh-place finish in the Championship during the 2022/23 season. However, he left the club in February 2024 after a difficult campaign was made worse by problems away from the pitch.

Despite his disappointing spell with Sweden, Tomasson’s overall club record remains respectable. His organised approach and ability to build teams that are difficult to defeat could make him an attractive option for Preston as they look to recover from their poor start.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane has developed an impressive managerial résumé in recent years, particularly through his work overseas with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ferencváros.

The former Republic of Ireland striker guided both clubs to domestic league titles. He is currently available after leaving Ferencváros at the end of last season, following a campaign in which the club failed to win the Hungarian league for the first time since 2018.

Keane has previously worked in English football as part of the coaching staff at Middlesbrough, and a move to Preston could offer him the opportunity to establish himself as a head coach in the English game.

His limited experience managing at this level may raise questions, but his achievements abroad suggest he could be worth considering. With Preston struggling badly, appointing a coach with a different approach could potentially help change the team’s fortunes.

Steve Clarke

Steve Clarke has not managed at club level since 2019, but he spent several successful years in charge of the Scotland national team.

During his time with Scotland, Clarke helped the country qualify for major tournaments, including their first European Championship since 1996 and their first World Cup since 1998. His tenure also included several notable results against stronger opposition.

Although a return to club management would represent a change for Clarke, his experience, tactical discipline and record of improving teams could make him a serious candidate for Preston.

The club may view his leadership and defensive organisation as valuable qualities as they attempt to move away from the relegation zone.