"The standout candidate" - Carlton Palmer tips Paul Heckingbottom for Preston North End vacancy | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has told FLW who he thinks should replace Ryan Lowe at Preston North End

Carlton Palmer has tipped Paul Heckingbottom to be the ideal replacement for Ryan Lowe at Preston North End.

According to Alan Nixon, the former Sheffield United boss is in the frame to take on the role following the departure of Ryan Lowe earlier this week, and the Yorkshireman is said to be keen on the vacancy at Deepdale.

Heckingbottom has been out of work since departing the Blades last December, having guided the Yorkshire outfit to Premier League promotion earlier in 2023.

Sky Sports have also reported that Alex Neil could also return to Deepdale as he has made the club's shortlist, with Brian Barry-Murphy also on their radar - although the Lancashire Post have claimed that as of Wednesday, Peter Ridsdale and co do not have a set list for the job that they are keen on.

Lowe’s former assistant Mike Marsh has been placed in charge of the squad on an interim basis, along with Peter Murphy and player-coach Ched Evans, while the search for a permanent successor goes on.

Ex-England international Carlton Palmer believes that the breaking down of the relationship between Lowe and the supporters at North End likely led to his decision to depart his role.

He has also suggested that any prospective new managers will want to speak to the 45-year-old to understand why he left, as he may raise some significant concerns.

“Preston North End parted company with their manager Ryan Lowe after the opening day fixture against Sheffield United at home where they lost 2-0,”Palmer told Football League World.

“The 45-year-old was booed off, culminating in six league defeats on the bounce without scoring if you take into account the end of last season.

“The club have said it’s a mutual decision to part company.

“If I remember correctly Ryan Lowe wasn’t too happy from last season in terms of what he was able to do in the transfer market, and who he was able to bring in and go out.

“He’s done a fantastic job in his time at Preston North End, any manager that gets booed off, especially after the opening day of the season - especially as much hard work as a manager puts in - it’s very disappointing to hear that, and I think that’s probably what’s culminated in a mutual decision for him to leave.

“Names that have been thrown in the hat to replace him, Alex Neil, Paul Heckingbottom, and Brian Barry-Murphy to name three.

“Obviously managers speak, so the managers who are in the hunt for the job will want to speak to Ryan Lowe.

“He may not tell them, he may tell them why he decided to walk after one game.

“It’s crazy - you give a manager the whole of pre-season, he’s working with the players and everything, surely if the club wanted to keep the manager, after one defeat something obviously wasn’t right, but surely you could’ve had a discussion. “They obviously thought that he was the man for the job, Ryan was there, something wasn’t quite right - any prospective manager will be looking at that.

“Again, Alex Neil has done good jobs at Sunderland and his clubs, so has Brian Barry-Murphy.”

Carlton Palmer tips Paul Heckingbottom to replace Ryan Lowe

Palmer however believes that the aforementioned Heckingbottom is the right man for the job, given the work he has done previously with Sheffield United.

"I’ve said this, and I’ve said it time and time again, I find it really strange that Paul Heckingbottom hasn’t picked up another job, that a club hasn’t come and got Heckingbottom,” Palmer added.

“The job he did at Sheffield United, I’ve said it time and time again, was a fantastic job, with a squad that was on its last legs and they ran away with promotion.

“He wasn’t given a fair crack of the whip in the Premier League, that’s all been documented.

“So, as long as everything is right at Preston North End, and Paul will want it that way in terms of he’s proven he can work with a limited budget and be successful, but he’ll want to know everything is alright.

“For me, he would be the standout candidate for the new manager role.”

Paul Heckingbottom appointment would be excellent for Preston North End

Heckingbottom endured a difficult spell behind the scenes at Sheffield United last season, but he still carved out a team that earned an impressive promotion to the top flight.

The Blades' time in the Premier League last season was not a fair reflection of Heckingbottom's ability as a manager, with a lack of investment leaving them too far below the level required to compete.

But he has shown he can work with limited resources, which could be a very necessary skill at PNE, where they have one of the lower budgets in the Championship with no sign of parachute payments.

His potential appointment would be a real coup for the Lancashire outfit, and although some may favour a younger, more fashionable candidate from overseas like a Danny Rohl-type, Heckingbottom would at least provide some stability.