'All about our resources' - Paul Heckingbottom waiting to see if summer wish becomes possible
PNE endured an up and down 2025/26 season which resulted in a 14th placed finish
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom would like to recruit for a back four is resources allow.
The Lilywhites chief recently admitted some clarity would be welcomed amid takeover talk, as PNE prepare for another important summer. North End supporters have been watching a back three for several years now, with mid-table finishes predominantly secured.
Assistant boss Stuart McCall has already suggested wide players will be on the agenda in the upcoming transfer window. Now, Heckingbottom has implied a change of shape will be eyed if Preston do come into added finances.
“It depends what our resources are,” Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post. “If we want to go play 4-3-3, 4-4-2... can we go and get four wingers who can create, score and defend, on free transfers and loans? Probably not. So, everything's all about our resources and then we go from there.
“I just like playing with a back four. I would like to play with a back four... four on the front line to press. Every game, virtually, we might defend in a back five and build in a back five but when we press, one of our wing backs is always an attacker and we press in a 4-4-2, for the majority of games. So, that wouldn't change.
“The difference in our tactical setup then is we are a 4-4-2, but how do we defend when people put five on our back line? We defend the five in our back line really well now, but then how do we press in the back five and push a player up? A lot is made about formation - too much probably. It's the personnel you've got in the group; it depends on how you set up.”
As far as the current squad goes, PNE’s boss didn’t seem to have many concerns over centre-back options for a back four. Wingers would certainly be on the agenda and judging by Heckingbottom’s comments, full-backs too.
“No, I want to improve,” said Heckingbottom, when asked if he is alright in that position. “I want to improve everywhere. This is the name of the game and I'm not saying this is what's happening with our group, but if we suddenly think there's a fantastic loan we can bring in and he wants to come play for us, we have a decision then: do we move one of our players on? If we think we can move a player on to improve, then that's something we have to do.”