Preston North End's Lancashire rivals suffer double blow as new manager search goes on
The Clarets are back in the Championship
Preston North End renew their Lancashire rivalry with Burnley next season - and the Clarets are yet to appoint a new manager.
Scott Parker departed the relegated Clarets in late April but his successor, two months on, is yet to be found.
Last week, it looked as though Craig Bellamy would be leaving the Wales job to take over at Turf Moor.
However, the former Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool man - who was part of Vincent Kompany’s coaching team at Burnley - performed a u-turn.
BBC Sport suggest there were issues around bringing his backroom staff, rather than compensation owed to FA Wales.
Ex-Wolves boss Rob Edwards swiftly became favourite for the vacancy but almost straight away, reports surfaced of him rejecting it.
Steve Cooper - who was sacked as Brondby boss last month - is now top with the bookies. He is followed by Robin van Persie, Kasper Hjulmand, Bo Henriksen and Steven Gerrard.
Burnley spent one season back in the top flight and will start pre-season with most of the same squad.
Loan man James Ward-Prowse has returned to his parent club while Martin Dubravka and Vaclav Hladky have departed.
PNE will first meet Burnley on December 5, away from home, before hosting the Clarets on March 27, in a 19:45 kick-off.