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Preston fired manager Paul Simpson on Tuesday after the club slipped to one place above the League Championship relegation zone.

Simpson took over from Billy Davies in June 2006 after the club lost to Leeds in the playoff semifinals. Although he led the club to the top spot five months later _ the team's highest placing in 55 years _ Preston missed the 2007 playoffs and has yet to win away from home this season.

"Modern football is a cutthroat industry and is results based," Preston chairman Derek Shaw said. "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."

Assistant manager Rob Kelly, Billy Barr and Dave Timmins will take charge of the team while Preston seeks a long-term replacement for Simpson.