Kieran Maguire shares interesting Preston North End takeover theory amid £30m shares move

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Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has offered some insight as to why Preston have converted £30m of loans from owners into shares.

Preston North End have made a solid start to the 2025/26 Championship campaign, with two wins from their opening four games.

Unfortunately for Paul Heckingbottom, deadline day did not go as he would have hoped after Preston were set to sign David Datro Fofana on loan from Chelsea ahead of Charlton Athletic, but missed out.

After the international break, Preston face league leaders Middlesbrough on home soil, which will prove to be a difficult task against Rob Edwards’ in-form outfit.

Amid the pause in Championship action, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has commented on Preston’s latest £30m move at boardroom level.

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Kieran Maguire comments on ‘potential’ Preston North End sale

The Hemmings family took over at Deepdale in 2010, with Craig Hemmings residing as Chairman and Peter Risdale as chief executive.

Earlier in the summer, Risdale revealed to the BBC that Preston have met “half a dozen” potential new owners “over the past 12 months”, but no takeover is imminent yet.

However, a Preston Club statement read this week: “In order to continue to demonstrate their commitment to the long-term sustainability of the club, the owners announce the conversion of £30m worth of the existing debt/loans into equity. This is in line with similar reviews carried in 2014 and 2024. 

“In all cases the purpose is to greatly strengthen the balance sheet and ensure that the family can continue to invest in the club whilst keeping debt at a moderate level.”

In response, football finance expert Maguire outlined that this £30m could aid in facilitating a potential sale.

Maguire said on X: “Preston convert £30m of loans from owners into shares”.

When asked what the benefit of this move for the club is, Maguire added on X: “Could make it easier for a potential sale too as less debt for new owner to inherit”.

Therefore, a takeover could be closer on the horizon at Deepdale, as it would take significant investment to see Preston challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

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Paul Heckingbottom must improve Preston North End’s 2025/26 finish

Last season, Heckingbottom’s relegation-threatened side finished 20th in the Championship table, just one point ahead of 22nd-placed Luton Town.

Given the aforementioned financial situation at Preston, the Lilywhites spent very little in the summer transfer window, with their biggest fee coming with the reported £1.4m move for Odeluga Offiah from Brighton.

One of the biggest coups of Preston’s transfer window was the loan signing of Harrison Armstrong from Everton following his impressive stint at Derby County last term.

Heckingbottom can be forgiven for not having lofty targets this season given the lack of summer investment, but he must now continue their solid start to the season to make Preston a more attractive proposition for potential new owners.