Preston North End has fired first-team boss Paul Heckingbottom. The club announced his exit on Sunday. Preston is sitting in the bottom three of the Championship after losing six of its first seven games this season. Heckingbottom was hired at Preston last year. He was previously in charge of Sheffield United. The side will be led by a Premier League cult hero in the interim role. The decision comes after a poor start in this year's league campaign.