Preston North End has parted ways with first-team boss Paul Heckingbottom. The club confirmed his departure on Sunday. Preston finds itself in the bottom three of the Championship after losing six of its first seven games this season. Heckingbottom was brought in at Preston last year. He was previously in charge of Sheffield United. The team will be guided by a Premier League cult hero as caretaker boss. The decision arrives after a poor start in this year's league campaign.