Next Preston Manager Odds: Five contenders to replace Ryan Lowe
EFL pundit Gab Sutton runs the rule over five contenders to replace Ryan Lowe, who left Preston after the first game of the 2024/25 Championship campaign…
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Paul Heckingbottom
Why he will get the job
Preston North End tend to like their managers who have some experience, and achievements under their belt, but who are still on the younger side: it’s what they’ve opted for with Alex Neil and Ryan Lowe, and Paul Heckingbottom might come into a similar category, nine years into his managerial career.
Heckingbottom has won promotions before, with Barnsley in League One, and with Sheffield United in the Championship, has a passion for developing players, and is out of work.
Why he might not
Things didn’t quite go to plan for Hecky at Leeds, Hibernian, nor in the Premier League with Sheffield United.
Arguably, he didn’t get the time he needed at Elland Road, the first part of his stint at Easter Road was promising on paper, and the Blades were on a hiding to nothing in the top flight after selling their two best players right before the start of the season. But, if we were making a case for doubt, that would be it.
Verdict
Solid appointment who would ensure North End remain competitive and developmental in midtable.
David Moyes
Why he will get the job
History. Moyes led Preston to Second Division safety in 1997/98, after taking charge mid-season, to the Play-Offs the following season, then to the title, and then, even more impressively, to the First Division Play-Offs before getting the Everton job in 2002.
Arguably the Lilywhites’ most successful manager in their modern history, the Scot’s return would carry a certain romanticism.
Crucially, in the intervening 22 years, he’s got Everton into the Champions League in a long-serving tenure of impeccable consistency on a low budget, he’s got the Manchester United job, beat Barcelona with Real Sociedad, and won a European trophy with West Ham.
Why he might not
Firstly, the game has evolved tactically and in terms of leadership, and it’s rare for managers to sustain impact over nearly 30 years, although that could just as easily be used as an argument for Moyes based on his longevity.
Secondly, he may feel he deserves a Premier League job and might want to hold out for one.
Verdict
Can’t argue with appointing a manager of his experience, profile and nous.
Alex Neil
Why he will get the job
Alex Neil has delivered competitive results consistently with PNE previously, delivering 7th, 14th and 9th-place finishes, ending those campaigns two, 13 and four points off the top six respectively.
And, when they finished 13 points off in 2018/19, they were in fact level on points with the Play-Off places in March that season, prior to six defeats in the final eight gave things a distorted look.
So, save for a couple of months, that’s three seasons of being just outside the top six, on a bottom six budget, which speaks volumes for Neil’s ability to maximize his resources.
Why he might not
It didn’t necessarily work out for Neil at Stoke, although he would argue that may have been down to structural issues during his tenure.
Verdict
This is a consistent, reliable Championship manager who is proven to deliver results.
Gary Rowett
Why he will get the job
Much like Neil and Heckingbottom, Rowett is a dependable Championship manager who has delivered results everywhere he’s been other than Stoke.
Having a manager who can consistently build top half sides on a bottom six budget can be a massive attraction to the Lilywhites, who have to build a team that can perform above the sum of it’s parts.
And, while Rowett likes 4-2-3-1, he showed at Millwall he’s not afraid to deploy a back-three formation.
The former defender is an honest, down-to-earth person of great integrity, and is easy for fans to connect with.
Why he might not
Rowett is open about his pragmatic approach, and that he wants a balance to his teams, that can sometimes mean leaning toward the more conservative side of the spectrum when needed.
As much as the authenticity is to be admired, it can mean he loses some appeal to clubs who want a more attacking approach.
Verdict
Will do a solid job, and possibly reinstate North End as a top half side that’s devilishly difficult to beat.
Liam Rosenior
Why he will get the job
Style.
Ryan Lowe came with a reputation for attractive football, from his time at Bury and Plymouth Argyle, and some of that was seen at the start of his reign, when he delivered top-10 form in the second half of 2021/22.
More recently, however, the quality of football has dropped off which, Lowe would argue, has been down to not having the personnel he needs in certain areas, especially in defence and wing-back areas, to play that way.
Rosenior is more clearly wedded to his style, and if that’s what the North End board desire, that puts him ahead of the pack.
Why he might not
Firstly, he has just been appointed at French side Strasbourg, making a move very unlikely.
Secondly, although Rosenior’s football is attacking in one sense, it can also be quite slow and pedestrian at its worst, and isn’t to everyone’s taste.
Plus, if you don’t have the personnel required to implement his style successfully, it might look slow and pedestrian more often, possibly without the rewards.
Although, when he first came in at Hull, he showed he is able to phase his ideas in gradually and not try to implement too much, too quickly.
Verdict
Depends what the board want, and whether they’re prepared to give Rosenior time to make it work, while they'll have the difficult task of trying to persuade him to leave Strasbourg, who he only joined a few weeks ago.
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