The dust is starting to settle on Paul Heckingbottom’s exit from Preston North End.
The 49-year-old departed the club on Sunday after just over two years at Deepdale, following a poor start to the season which has seen PNE lose six of their opening seven Championship games.
Below, we take a look at 10 of the highs and lows from his time in charge, plus a few honourable mentions of some of the other good times along the way.
5. Lowlight: PNE 0-1 Lincoln City (12/09/2026)
The last match of the Paul Heckingbottom era summed up everything that has gone wrong in recent weeks: an inability to convert chances, a gradual loss of control and momentum during games - often prompted by changes in personnel and formation - and, ultimately, the opposition doing the basics better. The atmosphere in the ground in the final stages of the match and at full-time was hard to listen to and there was an air of inevitability that change would come. | CameraSport - Richard Martin-Roberts
6. Highlight: PNE 3-0 Burnley (1/3/2025)
Victory in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in nearly 60 years tasted even sweeter against a Lancashire rival who had boasted an impressive defensive record throughout the season, and against whom PNE had drawn 0-0 in both league meetings. Former Claret Robbie Brady - who scored a superb free-kick - as well as Osmajic and Will Keane, were on the score-sheet as North End booked their place in the last eight. They went on to host Aston Villa in the quarter-finals and held their own for an hour before Villa's quality shone through. | Getty Images
7. Highlight: PNE 2-1 Leicester City (16/8/2025)
The first home game of a new season against a recently-relegated side, crowned Premier League champions just nine years prior, was something to be relished and North End rose to the occasion. Alfie Devine broke the deadlock early on with his first PNE goal from a tight angle. The hosts pushed for a second but were pegged back midway through the second half. However, Osmajic gave the Lilywhites the lead again, sending Deepdale into raptures, and they saw it through. This would be followed up by another impressive victory over Ipswich Town the next weekend. | CameraSport - Andrew Kearns
8. Highlight: Bristol City 0-2 PNE (4/1/2026)
This was quite possibly the peak of North End's 25/26 season and Heckingbottom's time in charge. Goals from Devine and Lewis Dobbin gave PNE a crucial win which took them to fourth in the table and within three points of second place. The game was the last in a busy festive schedule from which they had taken eight points out of a possible 15. PNE's prospects for the season took a dive after this point, but those full-time scenes at Ashton Gate will stay with many for some time. | CameraSport - Ian Cook