By Paul Fletcher

Simpson is determined to be a success at Deepdale

Preston manager Paul Simpson has urged fans not to panic after a poor start to the new season.

North End have one point from three games and are the only Football League team yet to score.

"It used to be the case that you would not see a league table until five or six games but everybody starts to panic now," Simpson told BBC Sport.

"Martin Jol has done a magnificent job at Tottenham but he was under pressure after the first game."

When things not going well it is the manager and chairman who get the stick Paul Simpson

Tottenham lost their first game of the season, at Sunderland, and were then beaten at home to Everton before beating Derby 4-0.

PNE boss Simpson was booed from the field after last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Colchester while chairman Derek Shaw said earlier this week that he would be standing down in the wake of abuse from fans.

Shaw has been targetted by a small minority of supporters and his car was spat at after Saturday's match.

"It is important to keep it all in perspective and not get too down about it, not too suicidal, we are three Championship games into a season," added Simpson.

PRESTON'S START TO THE SEASON Preston 0-0 Norwich (Championship) Preston 1-2 Morecambe (Carling Cup) WBA 2-0 Preston (Championship) Preston 0-3 Colchester (Championship)

"Inside the football club we are keeping our heads and working as hard as we can to make sure that it all comes right.

"Last year when we were flying high we kept everybody calm - now that results have not gone our way still telling the players to keep calm."

And the early-season experience has done nothing to dampen Simpson's enthusiasm for the job.

606: DEBATE What do you think of the situation at Preston?

"It makes me realise I still want to be involved - it is not putting me off," he said.

"You learn a lot about the players and you definitely realise who you friends are. Who is with you and who is not.

"When things are not going well it is the manager and chairman who get the stick."

Simpson was appointed Preston manager in July 2006 and his first season in charge saw the team lead the table shortly after Christmas but eventually miss out on a play-off berth by one place after losing six of their last eight matches.

And the manager is under no illusion that an improvement is required.

"Overall the performances have been decent but we have got one point on the board and that is all that we deserve," said the 41-year-old.

There is a player who has a different agenda to everybody else, who wants to make it difficult and spread malicious gossip Paul Simpson

"We have conceded far too many goals from set-pieces already and not scored enough, you don't need to be a genius to look at that and think there is more than one issue at stake.

"I'm still confident that we have a strong enough squad to compete at the right end of the table and I still think we have five strikers who are capable of scoring and midfielders who can contribute with goals."

David Nugent was sold to Portsmouth for �6m in the summer, leaving Neil Mellor, Patrick Agyemang and Brett Ormerod at the club while Andy Carroll has since joined on loan from Newcastle.

Simpson does not expect any new signings before Friday's transfer deadline but remains keen to see one player leave the club.

"The squad itself is very, very strong," he said.