Preston North End

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport Editor

Image source, Rex Features

The 2024/25 Championship season won't be looked back on in years to come with great affection by Preston North End fans.

They spent last summer preparing for another year under Ryan Lowe. He left after one match; his interim successor, Mike Marsh, was in charge for one league match with Paul Heckingbottom in charge of the remaining 44. Considerable upheaval that simply wasn't expected.

Just after the turn of the year, it wasn't beyond the realms of possibility that they could mount a play-off challenge. The reality was that they avoided one of the most unlikely relegations to League One by just a point.

Surrendering a two-goal lead at Bristol City on the final day to settle for a draw was pretty typical of how the season panned out.

Twenty draws is just far too many in any season. But it's the same number as they recorded in the second tier in 2005/06, which saw them finish the season in fourth spot. It's fair to say that the Championship is a much different animal, 19 years on.

Since that final day fixture, the retained list threw up very few surprises, if any. It had been long since assumed that Ryan Ledson, Freddie Woodman, Emil Riis and Patrick Bauer would be leaving on frees. Ched Evans will join that list if it's mutually decided that he'll leave the coaching staff and wishes to carry on playing elsewhere.

CEO Peter Ridsdale is optimistic about rebuilding a squad which could be argued is long overdue.

He told me: "There's a number of vacancies that Paul [Heckingbottom] is excited about being able to fill."

The expectancy is that summer incomings could total 10 or more. Despite the remaining members of the squad being under contract, departures could still take place. Danish midfielder Jeppe Okkels, who has been on loan at Aberdeen since the winter transfer window, is one who can look for pastures new.

His arrival came between permanent managers last summer. It's a deal that could potentially have been stopped by North End, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Had he hit the ground running, his signing wouldn't have come under any real scrutiny.

The fact is, it's not worked out, and it's one that they're highly likely to take a substantial financial hit on.

So, it's over to Paul Heckingbottom's judgement, along with the recruitment team headed by James Wallace to find the new pieces of the jigsaw.

The return of goalkeeper Daniel Iversen has been "doing the rounds" for some time. It's a signing that makes great sense. A terrific shot stopper who has the fanbase on his side from day one.

Then come the other areas in need of addressing. Full-backs, or wing-backs as referred to by Peter Ridsdale are required on both sides. A right-sided centre-back to rival Jordan Storey.

Left-footed midfielders, with former Stoke and Blackpool man Jordan Thompson an imminent arrival and replacements for Riis, Evans and Layton Stewart in the front line. In total, there is a lot to do, but it is something the club should relish.

The area that screams out as needed to me is a maverick-type player, someone who can get the crowd on their feet. The likes of Liam Millar, Paul Gallagher and Aiden McGeady have all provided that spark over the last decade of second-tier football.

It promises to be an interesting close season at the Euxton training ground.

Preston North End have met with six potential new owners over the past year, according to chief executive Peter Ridsdale.

The Lilywhites finished 20th in the Championship this season, securing their status on the final day with a draw at Bristol City, as well as reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"We're not currently talking to anybody, I've probably met half a dozen people over the past 12 months - but as we are today none are at the table," Ridsdale told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I think most are shocked by how much it takes to invest in a Championship club."

Preston have spent the past 10 seasons in the Championship and have been owned by the Hemmings family since 2010 when the late businessman Trevor Hemmings bought the club following a winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs.

"The days when the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker locally could afford to own clubs are long gone," said Ridsdale.

"To be honest the days when millionaires could afford to own a Championship club are also long gone."

To push towards the Premier League the former Leeds chairman admitted North End will need significant outside investment.

"If we are to match the aspirations of our supporters then we need to be attracting some of the people who are buying into clubs in the Premier League or more recently Birmingham," he said.

"Outside investment of a minority stake doesn't work - if you're going to buy a club you want to make the decisions."

Peter Ridsdale was talking to BBC Radio Lancashire's Andy Bayes.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire after his team finished the season with a draw at Bristol City: "Really pleased with the performance. Bristol City have had two shots on target and scored two goals.

"We controlled the game without the ball and Emil [Riis] and Milli [Osmajic] were always a threat.

"I was really proud of the performance, just really disappointed with the goals [conceded]. They were the only two blips on a top away performance.

"It was a productive day for our strikers but that was because how hard they worked without the ball."

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom says it is "pointless worrying" about relegation before Saturday's decisive game against Bristol City.

The Lancashire side are only one point above the relegation zone after a winless run of seven league games and can only guarantee safety with a victory, although even if they lose, Hull City and Luton will both need a point away at Portsmouth and West Brom respectively to send Preston down.

However, the Robins are also chasing points to firm up a place in the play-offs, with a win securing their top-six spot.

"The thinking about it, the worrying about it, is worse than being in it," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's a game we want to win, we need to win. There will be a different dynamic to it because Bristol City are thinking the same thing.

"It's pointless worrying about it. We can't take any of that into the game."

While events at other matches may affect the overall outcome for either team and Heckingbottom will have one eye on what is happening elsewhere, he says he won't take too much notice until the match nears its conclusion.

"I only think it comes into play in the last five minutes," he added. "Even if the game is in the balance for both sets of managers, when it gets to the end and you're thinking about substitutions and things, you've got to know."

Heckingbottom will not be present in the dugout for North End's final game after receiving a two-match ban on Friday.

Bristol City will look to book their place in the play-offs while visitors Preston North End will be scrapping for survival when the two meet on Saturday (12:30 BST) for the final game of the season.

The Robins have missed their past two attempts to secure a shot at promotion, losing to Luton Town and Leeds United, but will be guaranteed a place if they secure victory against North End.

Though Preston will also be desperate for a win too.

They've lost their past four successive games and are winless across their past seven to see them drop from the midtable to a real relegation threat, with only three points a definitive way of remaining in the Championship next season.

• Bristol City have lost just two of their last 12 league games against Preston North End (W4 D6), scoring 2+ goals in six of those matches.

• After winning each of their five away league games against Bristol City between 2014 and 2018, Preston North End are since winless in five visits to Ashton Gate to face the Robins (D3 L2).

• Bristol City have won just one of their nine fixtures played on the final day of a league campaign (D2 L6), a 2-0 success against QPR in May 2023.

• When playing away from home on the final day of a league campaign, Preston have won just one of their last 13 fixtures (D2 L10) whilst failing to score in eight of those matches.

• Preston have picked up just 49 points across their 45 league games this season, their lowest tally going into the final game of the season since 2010-11 (39), the last time they were relegated from the Championship.

"If you would have said that, three or four weeks ago, Preston are going to have to go to the last day of the season to get a result, you'd be like no, no chance," former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff tells the 72+ podcast.

McAnuff and Aaron Paul are joined by former Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke as they discuss the upcoming Championship relegation fight and who they think is most at risk.

For McAnuff, it's Hull City and Preston North End that "are in trouble".

Hull sacked former boss Liam Rosenior after finishing seventh in the Championship last season, but have struggled since his departure and are currently sitting in the bottom three, a point away from safety.

Meanwhile, Preston are among three teams just a point above and have been dragged into the relegation fight after a winless run of seven games - and it's the Lancashire side Clarke is most concerned about.

"I just think to myself, they've dropped off a cliff, they've got Bristol City away, I fancy Hull to get something at Portsmouth," Clarke said.

"Fratton Park is a difficult place to go to... but they are on holiday aren't they?"

Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom said his side's defeat by Plymouth is a "scare" and wake-up call as they remain at risk of relegation.

The 2-1 loss has dropped them to 19th in the table, one point above the bottom three and level on points with Luton below them, ahead of a final day match against Bristol City next Saturday.

"A scare like this is 100 per cent [a wake-up call]. But all I'm focused on is the preparation and the performance next week. That's it. That's what we mentioned today.

"The missing bits were in both boxes and we should be having a completely different conversation, but I've said that too many times and that's been the one consistent flaw in our performances.

"When we've had the performances, when we've had the chances, we've not picked up enough three points off it and that's the tale of it. When we've not been at our best, we've not been able to get over the line like Plymouth have today.

"It's a tale of both boxes. We were wasteful in their box and they were clinical in ours. That's it.

"Everything else in between is propaganda when you're looking for results. Even though we controlled that bit, the game's always controlled with what happens in both boxes."

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End will be without Mads Frokjaer for their crucial home game against fellow strugglers Plymouth on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The midfielder injured his hamstring during Monday's 2-1 defeat by Hull City.

Frokjaer joins midfielders Ali McCann and Brad Potts, as well as goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, on the sidelines.

Preston have won just one of their past 13 league games, a run which has left them only three points clear of the relegation zone but boss Paul Heckingbottom believes his side have the fight to steer clear of trouble.

"I wouldn't question their application or attitude," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I can't have people criticise the players when they are working as hard as ever - the lads have been let down by other factors."

After Saturday's meeting with Plymouth, Preston finish their campaign at Bristol City.

Both these sides still have work to do to secure their Championship status.

Plymouth will start Saturday's game (15:00 BST) three points short of safety, while Preston's six-match winless run means they are only three points clear of trouble.

• Preston are unbeaten across their past six league games against Plymouth (W3 D3), since a 1-0 away loss in October 2008.

• Plymouth are winless in their past seven away league games against Preston (D3 L4), since a 1-0 win in November 1997.

• Preston have won just one of their past 13 league games (D6 L6), losing the past three in a row. They last lost more consecutively between April and August last year (seven).

• Plymouth have alternated between victory (three) and defeat (two) in their past five league games, beating Norwich last time out. However, both losses in that run have come away from home, while all three victories have come at home.

Preston North End assistant manager Stuart McCall says they should never have been in a Championship relegation battle but have "no one to blame but ourselves".

The Lilywhites have won just one of their past 13 games (D6 L6) and are now only three points above the drop zone with two matches remaining.

"We should no way be anywhere near the position we are, but our poor results in the last 13 games have put us where we are," McCall told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The run recently has been disappointing. Poor really, there is no getting away from it.

"We've got to go out there and make sure that we put in a performance against Plymouth which gets us the result that we need to stay in the division.

"It sounds a crazy thing to say, but that's the reality."

McCall said Preston have "lost too many points in positions where we've been ahead" and the players now need to "stand up and be counted".

Paul Heckingbottom's side have led in six of their last eight games, but the only time they have managed to convert that into three points was against Portsmouth at Deepdale on 15 March.

"So there should be criticism flying around," he added.

"It's not where we want to be, it's not where anybody wants to be. Any criticism coming our way is totally deserved and merited.

"After the QPR game we talked about mentality and desire. That's something we're going to have to look at.

"The stats are there. To be ahead in six games and not take a victory out of it - there is something not quite right."

Preston's remaining fixtures:

• 26 April: Plymouth Argyle (H)

• 3 May: Bristol City (A)

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End assistant manager Stuart McCall says that the controversial award of the first of two penalties in the defeat at Hull City changed the momentum of the game.

Leading by Lewis Gibson's first-half strike, McCall argued that the penalty should have not been given.

Joe Gelhardt equalised and then scored a second spot-kick to take all three points for the Tigers.

The loss leaves North End looking over their shoulders, in 18th place but only three points clear of relegation with two games to go.

The Lancashire club are also on a poor run of form, having taken only two points from their last six matches.

"The performance was OK to a point in that we controlled parts of the game and got a goal," McCall told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I'm not biased, I'll be honest when I see things, I spoke to (Hull defender) John Egan before the game today and they got a penalty given against them on Friday that was scandalous when the ball hit his face.

"Today we have had one given against us that is nowhere near a penalty kick.

"I think he gets the second one right but the big decision is the first one because it gave them the momentum."