Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom rules out free transfers and clarifies Alan Browne stance
The PNE boss was in front of the media on Thursday.
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom says he is happy with his current squad after reflecting on the club’s deadline-day business.
North End brought in their ninth and tenth - and final - signings of the summer on Tuesday, as striker Johnny Kenny arrived from Celtic for a fee of around £3m, while midfielder Liam Gibbs joined on loan from Norwich City.
Heckingbottom was speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of PNE’s home game against Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Asked by BBC Radio Lancashire if they filled all the gaps they wanted to, he said: “Yes, we did.
“Right up until the end, it's been a tough window for everyone. We've done most of our work at the end, if you know what I mean.
“Week by week, game by game, we've been adding a player, adding two players and then we were really pleased on Tuesday to get Johnny and Liam done.”
Asked if Alan Browne was close to joining the club, he said: “We tried, I don't know if we got close. And that's it.”
He added there was ‘probably a few’ reasons why the transfer didn’t materialise but, aside from that, he was tight-lipped about the former club captain.
There is still the opportunity for clubs to recruit unattached players on free transfers, and there are plenty of them - with Championship experience - still looking for moves.
However, Heckingbottom is currently not interested in bringing any in.
He is happy with his current squad and, even if suspensions or injuries hamper PNE in the coming weeks, any moves before January look unlikely.
“No, not unless we really need to,” he told the Lancashire Post, “we've got the bodies in.
“Hopefully, we'll welcome back [Andrew] Hughesy and [Brad] Pottsy. We've got enough Championship experience in our group to deal with things like that.”
Heckingbottom is satisfied with his centre-back options, and says the regular switches of personnel and positions at the back has been mainly down to their transfer prospects further up the pitch changing.
“Yes, a lot of that's been down to shape, hasn't it?”, he told BBC Radio Lancashire, “constant shape-changing.
“We've been in a position where we wanted to sign wingers, and for whatever reason, we couldn't [in pre-season].
“During the first few weeks of pre-season, we tried to play with a back four, but then we couldn't.
“The season started and we were short in those positions, so we changed back and then we managed to get Stan at the last minute.
“So, yes, it was a bit messy like that, and it meant that the players were constantly changing positions and shapes, which is not ideal for the boys at the back. But likewise, it's about form as well, and conceding chances and goals.
“I think everyone's seen we've conceded uncharacteristically sloppy goals, if you like, and that's down to it as well.
“This is our squad now and we can get to work together. There’s two brand new faces, the first time they'll all be on the grass together is tomorrow, and then we'll get to work and start building those relationships.”
One notable difference in this season’s squad compared to last is fewer out-and-out strikers: two in the current senior ranks compared to six last term.
Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post: “We haven't replaced them but we’ve gone slightly different in terms of shape, haven't we?
“It's tough. I think if you ask any club, the centre forward, everyone was looking for them, that's how it is.
“We were really clear about the last 10 days of the window, what we would have to go for, what we had left, and then that's what we did. We got the wide players in.
“We can play with players inside the pitch, play one number nine and two 10s or start with two 9s. We've given ourselves that little bit of flexibility again, which is important.”