2026

Paul Heckingbottom, Preston North End – 13 September 2026

Our return to the Championship brought another addition to the list. Freddie Draper’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win at Deepdale on 12 September, and Preston announced Paul Heckingbottom’s departure the following day.

The defeat left North End 23rd, with six losses from their opening seven league matches. This one needs no creative accounting: Lincoln were his final opponents, there was no intervening fixture, and he was gone before Preston played again.

Nicky Hayen, Burnley – 24 October 2026

Six weeks later, Nicky Hayen joined him after Burnley were beaten 4-1 at Sincil Bank. The Clarets had taken the lead, but City equalised before half-time and pulled away after the break to secure our first home league win of the season. By that evening, Burnley had dismissed their head coach with immediate effect.

Burnley were 22nd, having won only one of their opening 12 Championship matches. Like Heckingbottom, Hayen had problems well before he encountered the Imps, but there is no arguing with the sequence of events: Lincoln were his final opponents, and the defeat was followed by his dismissal that same day.