EFL podcaster Tom Garratt does not see Carlos Corberan as the next Preston North End manager, instead citing Burnley, Wrexham, and Birmingham City as potential next stops for the former Valencia manager.

Corberan was fired from the La Liga club on Sunday, following a dismal start to the season in which Los Murciélagos earned only one point from their first five games.

It was the third consecutive poor start to the season, but whereas Corberan was brought in midway through the 2024/25 season and guided the team away from relegation, and then did the same in his first (and only) full year at the helm, he has been barred from doing so for the third time this year.

The Spanish manager received numerous accolades during his tenure in charge of Championship clubs Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion, and many believe he will return to the EFL this season.

Tom Garratt gives Carlos Corberan verdict on who his next club will be.

EFL podcaster Tom Garratt has seen firsthand the influence Corberan can have in the Championship. The West Brom fan witnessed the Spanish manager lead the Baggies from the relegation zone to the play-offs in the span of a season and half.

His dismissal from Valencia came on the same day that the first managerial casualty in the second division was announced, with Preston North End parting ways with Paul Heckingbottom following only one win in seven games to begin the season.

On the most recent episode of The Pyramid Podcast, Garratt instantly urged Preston fans not to get their hopes up about a move for Corberan, suggesting that the former West Brom manager could end up at a different Lancashire-based second-tier club.

“Who do you think Preston will bring in?” “On the same day, King Carlos was fired from Valencia,” he explained. “I’ll be honest: get that out of your head. “He’s not going to Preston.”If Burnley’s manager is sacked, I can see him joining Wrexham or Birmingham Blues. Although I don’t think they’ll sack their bosses right now.”But, yeah, put that out of your minds. “Carlos Corberan is not going to Preston.”

Carlos Corberan could be a step too far in the Preston North End managerial hunt.

Corberan’s stint in the dugouts of Championship clubs has seen him transform relegation-threatened clubs into play-off contenders.

That was almost expected with West Brom given their history and aspirations, but it was at Huddersfield that he truly established himself as a top-flight coach.

The Terriers ended 20th in his first season as manager, but in 2021/22, he took them to within six points of automatic promotion and advanced to the play-off final, where they were defeated by Nottingham Forest.

Carlos Corberán’s Championship record

Games

190

Wins 80

Draws

53

Defeats: 57

Win percentage

42%

Since leaving the Accu Stadium, he has managed large clubs in the top tiers of their respective divisions, including Olympiacos and Valencia, with West Brom in the middle. A move to coach Preston may be perceived as a step back for the 43-year-old.

The Lilywhites are attempting to be ambitious, as evidenced by the transfer window and the decision to sack Heckingbottom after a terrible start, but Corberan may be too much.

Carlos Corberan would be an excellent hire for a Championship team struggling to meet expectations.

If Corberan wants to return to the EFL, he could be better off waiting for additional openings in Championship clubs’ dugouts.

As Garratt noted, Burnley, in particular, may find themselves seeking for a new coach, and the weight of expectation at clubs like Wrexham and Birmingham always raises some concerns if form isn’t going their way.

The Clarets appear to be the more likely at the moment, with Nicky Hayen yet to win a game in 90 minutes since joining Turf Moor in the summer. They presently sit atop the Championship table and face a huge home match against fellow relegation zone dwellers Derby County on Saturday.

A loss there might mean the end for Hayen. With the three-week international break approaching, there is an excellent opportunity for a new man to come in and have ample time on the training pitch to implement ideas.

With Corberan’s ability to take a team that has underachieved and propel it up the Championship table, the Spaniard would be an ideal contender for Burnley if they parted ways with their present head coach this week.