Preston North End has fired first-team boss Paul Heckingbottom. The club announced his exit on Sunday. Preston is sitting in the relegation zone of the Championship after losing six of its first seven games this season. Heckingbottom was appointed at Preston last year. He was previously in charge of Sheffield United. The team will be led by a Premier League cult hero as caretaker boss. The decision arrives after a difficult beginning to the campaign.