Preston North End's first few days under Paul Heckingbottom fills ex-Barnsley man with optimism

Liam Lindsay was happy to see a familiar face walk through the door this week and into the Preston North End manager’s office.

Paul Heckingbottom is the new Lilywhites’ boss - appointed on Tuesday as successor to Ryan Lowe, after an eight month break. Last time the 47-year-old managed in the Championship, he guided Sheffield United to 91 points and automatic promotion.

His managerial career started back in 2016, at hometown club Barnsley, following a stint as caretaker. The Tykes were taken up from League One and Lindsay was one of Heckingbottom’s recruits, in the summer of 2017. It’s been an up-and-down fortnight, but the Scot believes North End have got the right man.

“It’s been hectic, hasn’t it?” said Lindsay. “It is not ideal losing the manager after two games, but it is done now. We just need to look forward to the new gaffer coming in and see what ideas he’s got going forward. You always get a bounce when a new manager comes in - everyone ups it. But no, he’s got his ideas across as much as he can, in two days. I have obviously worked with him before and I know what he’s about really, but he’s done a good job getting across what he wants. It’s a work in progress.

“I think, as a man, he is a top guy and I loved working with him at Barnsley when I was there. That was a while ago now. When you looked at the list, I think he was the one who was head and shoulders above everyone you thought would get it. So, I am happy he’s here and looking forward to it. I was only with him for seven or eight or months. He brought me down from Scotland. I enjoyed every minute working with him. He has probably been one of the best managers I’ve worked with.”

Lindsay is keen to look ahead instead of backwards. Heading into this campaign, the pressure was on PNE to start well - given how last season finished under Lowe, with five straight defeats. The Scot insists his focus is simply on winning every game, irrespective of what’s going on outside. Nonetheless, fresh voices on the training pitch are refreshing to have - and Lindsay believes Heckingbottom’s methods will help North End get back on track.

“Yeah, of course,” said Lindsay. “When a manager has been here for three years, almost, it is different - everyone is a bit on edge. So, you lift it and I am just looking forward to it. I think he will get the most out of the boys. He is a great organiser. He gets everyone to know exactly what he wants them to do on the pitch, so it ends up becoming second nature.

“It’s a bit early now, so you probably won’t see that for a few games - until he drills it into us. But, a great organiser and great man-manager. I think the minimum he expects is hard work and also to enjoy working hard, so good things to come. When a manager comes in, it doesn’t just happen overnight, so just give us a little bit of time and I am sure we will repay that.”

North End finished 13th, 12th and 10th under Lowe, but the feeling among the fan base had turned sour towards the end of his tenure. Lindsay accepts that might’ve been down to performances, and certainly the lack of goals in recent times. The 28-year-old thinks Heckingbottom will implement a style of football, to get both sides of Preston’s game right.

“Yeah, like you say I think the finishes - obviously you can look back at a season and say you could’ve picked up points here or there - but 10th is a good season I think,” said Lindsay. “Maybe it comes down to style of football, but I think every fan now, in every team, wants that passing (game) - but it is not going to happen all the time. So, I think we need to be a wee bit realistic in what we are doing.

“But, of course, we need to be scoring goals and exciting the fans. I think you can take losing a game if we are having shots on target and goals. You can take that, instead of not scoring. And we have not scored in a while, which is not good. I think he will get us aggressive, high up the pitch, and we will nick a lot of balls up there. When you do that, you’ve got a high chance of scoring more goals.”

Heading back to Deepdale, for Saturday’s home clash against Luton Town, is one which certainly whets the appetite for the defender. The new manager has spoken about mentality a lot already and Lindsay feels it is vital PNE make themselves a force on home soil. He has no doubts that there will be a drive and determination, within the team, to give everything this weekend.

“Yeah exactly,” said Lindsay. “It is a great game to come into, really. Luton obviously had a season in the Premier League and will be itching to go back up. It will be a tough test for us, but I think we need to make Deepdale hard to come to - and make teams fear coming. I think that’s what we need to do this season. He has already told us that there is no point playing with fear. He wants to bring joy back to playing, which is what we play football for. He’s said that we are in the best job in the world, which we are - so be joyful every day and play with less fear.”