Simpson sacked by Preston

[sportbilly]

Preston North End have sacked Paul Simpson following the club's disappointing start to the season.


The Championship side are 21st in the table after one win in seven games and Simpson has paid the price for the poor run of results.

Only on Monday, Simpson revealed that he would not stand down, despite describing Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Hull City as the 'worst performance of the season'.

However, Preston have now taken the decision out of the former Carlisle manager's hands by relieving him of his duties.


Heavy heart

"It is with heavy heart that this type of decision has to be made, but the board and I felt that a change was necessary to try and halt the recent slide in results and performance," chairman Derek Shaw told the club's official website.

"Modern football is a cut-throat industry and is results based and without an away win in the league this season and with three away league wins in the whole of 2007 we felt we had to act now.

"We have asked Rob Kelly, Billy Barr and Dave Timmins to look after first-team training while we search for a successor to Paul, but we hope this process can be concluded quickly and hope to try and get someone in place before the next game, against Charlton Athletic a week on Saturday.

"May I place on record my thanks to Paul for his honest and hard-working approach in his time at the club and wish him every success in the future."