Davies was swiftly replaced by Carlisle boss Paul Simpson in early June who was given an early shock as the majority of his backroom staff walked out... to end up at Pride Park. Simpson acted quickly with Barr and Booth joining before the season from Carlisle along with a new physio in Steve Kemp from Wolves.
Simpson was put on the back foot with the sales of Claude Davis and Tyrone Mears but arrivals came in the form of Pugh, Chilvers and St Ledger. Pre-season went well with a 7-0 victory over Bamber Bridge kicking things off during a number of unbeaten matches. It all ended in a sour note though as Preston were victorious over Man Utd but it was to be the end of the season for influential Youl Mawene who was crocked in an accident by team mate Brian Stock.
Nash then had a go at the club in general but was convinced to stay at the club for the near future by boss Simpson.
Expectations of the season were levelled around mid-table and Preston's first month looked tough with away matches at Norwich and Southampton. An opening day draw against 10 man Sheff Wed did not set Preston up well who went down to a defeat at Carrow Road before travelling to their third game in a week at Molineux. In front of the Sky cameras we saw Nugent shine and the first particle of positivity from North End. A late equaliser against QPR at home brought the fans down to earth followed by a poor defeat in the League Cup at Port Vale. Preston then went to St Mary's, bombarded by the home side yet a goalkeeping error meant Preston got a draw.
September was a much improved month. A good win against Cardiff followed by Agyemang's wonder goal against West Brom shot preston up the table. Preston also won at home to Barnsley whilst getting respectable draws at Derby and Stoke.
October saw some stunning home performances with big wins against Sunderland, Hull and Leeds. A comeback down at Portman Road saw Preston win at Ipswich but a last minute defeat on Sky at local rivals Burnley left a sour taste for the Whites.
Preston stuttered in November with two wins against lowly Luton and away at Leicester but draws against Southend, Crystal Palace and Coventry. Preston then had a downturn in form with a very poor performance away at Luton before losing away at Birmingham in early December.
The Whites rallied well beating Plymouth and Colchester at home before ten man Preston went down to a valiant defeat to West Brom before snatching a victory away at Sunderland. Preston ended the calender year undefeated at home.
Preston started 2007 with a controversial defeat to Derby who were awarded a penalty that only the referee could spot as being inside the area when it clearly wasn't. His assistant failed to help and the year got off to a bad start. Preston rebounded with victories in the FA Cup at home to Sunderland and at Palace to progress to the 5th Round. In the league there was a victory away at Barnsley as well as a comeback against Stoke before a defeat at highly rated Colchester.
The month also saw the signings of Ricketts, Henderson, Pergl and Soley as well as the outburst of Nash seeing him outcasted from the first team squad.
By this point Mccormack had gone to Southend, Stock to Doncaster whilst Jarrett found himself out on loan at Leicester.
February is regarded as the key month when things started to go awry by the management. It started with a convincing win away at Sheff Wed but went slowly downhill with a defeat at home to Wolves before being knocked out of the FA Cup at Deepdale by Man City. There was a win against Norwich but a humiliating defeat on Sky away at Cardiff was painful for the fans and Mckenna who did not play for the rest of the season.
Entering March Preston had no recognised fit midfield players. They managed to win their home games against Southampton, Ipswich and Burnley but poor away performances at Hull and Leeds meant no points on the road and a big dent in the season as Preston were failing against the lower sides.
Three further defeats in April to QPR, Crystal Palace and at home on Easter Monday to struggling Southend saw Preston slip away from the top two where they had been since September. Preston then had their biggest win away at Coventry to restore faith before a last minute home defeat at Leicester and a fruitless journey to Plymouth saw Preston slip out of the top six for the first time for seven months.
The last game saw Preston win and deny Birmingham the title but other results meant preston finished seventh only one point off the play off positions.
Preston on the whole had a respectable season with comings and goings. More change will happen over the next few months as Preston strive to improve under Simpson to find that elusive Premiership ticket.