EFL: Preston North End approach Bradford City for talks with Graham Alexander
Preston North End have made an approach to Bradford City seeking permission to hold talks with manager Graham Alexander, as confirmed by the Bantams.
The 54-year-old City manager enjoyed an eight-year spell at the Lancashire side, making over 350 appearances, and is recognised as a legend by fans at the Deepdale.
Preston are Sky Bet’s 10/11 favourites for relegation, and have been without a manager since parting ways with Paul Heckingbottom, who left the club in the Championship relegation zone, writes Sports News Blitz’s Charlie Gardner.
Bradford’s hero
Alexander ended the club’s six-year period in League Two in dramatic fashion, when an injury-time winner helped the club secure automatic promotion to League One at the end of the 2024/25 season — his first full campaign after joining Bradford in 2023.
The success continued in the division above, where the Bantams enjoyed a promotion push, never leaving the top six after entering it.
Their 2025/26 season ended in the playoff semi-finals, with a defeat to eventual Wembley winners Bolton Wanderers.
Now sat top of the League One table in the 2026/27 campaign, Bradford are 7/4 on Sky Bet’s promotion odds - but losing the manager instrumental to their recent success has fans worrying over the risk of derailing their season.
Alexander can bring solidity
Alexander’s Bradford City have been recognised for their robust, no-nonsense defending and boast the best defensive record in the league.
Their aggression in attack is also praised, with the manager’s chosen 3-4-3 formation encouraging the wingbacks to bomb forward relentlessly to help the team create chances.
He is, however, a man who has never managed in the Championship, a big concern for Preston fans.
Bradford comment
A Bradford City press release confirmed that an approach had been made, with the saying in a statement: “Bradford City AFC can confirm we have been approached by Preston North End to speak to Graham Alexander regarding the Sky Bet Championship side’s managerial vacancy.
“Reluctantly, Bradford City has granted permission for Graham to speak to Preston North End.
The club will be making no further comment at this time.”
An expected conclusion
Many eyes in West Yorkshire have been nervously following results over in Lancashire since the season started - and speculation has been bubbling over whether Preston could be eyeing up a return for their club legend.
A Bradford City crowd spent their Saturday in Luton singing in praise for Alexander, but it could be time for the journey to end.
Replacement lined up?
Higher-ups at Valley Parade will have no doubt been keeping an eye on Preston’s results in recent weeks, and now that it looks as though official contact has been made, fans are speculating as to who could take the helm.
One name is Dave Challinor, most recently of Stockport County.
His attacking football at County brought the club improved success almost every year, winning the National League and, after losing in the play-offs in the subsequent season, got the club promoted to League One as champions.
Challinor left Stockport after the 25/26 season, ending the campaign at Wembley when they lost to Bolton in the play-off final.
While he seems to be the undoubted favourite and a more natural fit, some fans wouldn’t mind former player Heckingbottom to come in the reverse direction, a manager who also has City legend Stuart McCall in his staff.
Overall thoughts
It’s hard to remain unbiased as a Bradford City fan, but it seems like Alexander is leaving the most secure job in football that benefits both parties for a roll of the dice that could very well end poorly.
That said, Alexander has overachieved in recent years with the club; his success in getting Bradford out of League Two was a task that countless big names had failed to do, and he has been instrumental from day one.
I’d imagine a man of his ambition will look forward to the challenge in the Championship, and a big role in that division is well deserved.
It’s just a shame it might not be with us.
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