Board consider former Everton full-back as options multiply
Preston North End are understood to be exploring Leighton Baines as a possible candidate to replace Paul Heckingbottom after the manager’s dismissal this month. The link to the Everton assistant coach comes as the club continue to prioritise former striker Robbie Keane, but report writers say Baines has emerged as an alternative should that pursuit falter.
The vacancy at Deepdale arrived after a run of poor results that left the team at the wrong end of the Championship table. Heckingbottom was dismissed following a sequence of seven defeats at the start of the campaign, the final straw being a 1-0 home defeat which preceded the decision to part company.
"Leighton Baines could be offered a route into Championship management"
The suggestion that Baines is being considered stems from reporting by Alan Nixon and coverage on Goodison-focused outlets. Those reports do not say an appointment is imminent and make clear Preston view Keane as their preferred candidate. But reported competition for Keane — and the potential for him to move elsewhere, including a reported interest from Celtic — mean the club are preparing alternatives.
What Baines would face at Deepdale
Should Preston press ahead, the club would be offering Baines his first permanent senior managerial post. That would be a significant step from his current role on David Moyes’ staff at Everton. It would also revive a historic connection: Moyes began his managerial career at Preston in 1998 and spent four years at Deepdale before moving to Everton in 2002.
Preston’s situation presents both opportunity and challenge. The club need immediate results to arrest a slump, giving any incoming manager little leeway for a long settling-in process. The new appointment will be expected to lift form and stabilise confidence in a squad that has started the season poorly.
- Priority target: Robbie Keane (reported preferred candidate)
- Alternative linked: Leighton Baines (Everton assistant)
- Trigger for vacancy: seven defeats to open the campaign; 1-0 home defeat before dismissal
Immediate context and next steps
There is no suggestion in the reports that Baines has been approached formally or that talks are underway. The club’s next move is likely to depend on whether they can secure their first-choice candidate. If Keane becomes unavailable — through interest from elsewhere or a move to Celtic — Preston could intensify contact with Baines.
For Baines personally, a move would mean leaving a coaching position under Moyes and taking on the full responsibilities of a Championship manager. That would involve transferring from an assistant role at Premier League level to the pressures of week-to-week management at Deepdale, where expectations remain high despite the poor start.
| Recent managerial facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reason for vacancy | Seven defeats at start of season; 1-0 home loss preceded sacking |
| Reported primary target | Robbie Keane |
| Reported alternative | Leighton Baines (Everton assistant) |
Supporters will watch the club’s next moves closely. Any appointment will be judged on immediate impact, both in results and in the dressing-room response. Preston’s hierarchy face a delicate balancing act: bring in a rookie with strong potential or secure a more established name who can hit the ground running.
Whatever path the club chooses, the search underlines the urgency inside the club to halt a slide that has left Deepdale supporters concerned early in the season. The new manager will inherit not just a squad in need of form, but an expectation from a fanbase that has seen managerial success in recent decades and expects Preston to be competitive in the Championship.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor developments and report any official announcements from the club as they happen.
