Bradford City have confirmed they have “reluctantly” granted manager Graham Alexander permission to speak to Championship side Preston North End about their vacant managerial post.
- Bradford City confirmed Preston North End approached Graham Alexander and granted permission for talks.
- Bradford characterised the decision as made "reluctantly" and will not comment further for now.
- Alexander has strong historical ties to Preston and has recent success at Bradford, including promotion from League Two.
- Preston sacked Paul Heckingbottom and are reported to be near the bottom of the Championship, seeking a new manager.
What the clubs have said
In a short club statement, Bradford City acknowledged an approach from Preston and said it had allowed Alexander — who is contracted to Bradford until the end of next season — to hold talks with the Championship club. The statement described the decision as made with reluctance and added that the club would make no further comment at this time.
Why Preston are making the approach
Preston North End sacked Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month following a poor start to their Championship campaign. Reports cited by multiple outlets say Lancastrians have found themselves near the foot of the table and have been looking externally to appoint a new head coach. Local reporting has suggested Preston have narrowed their shortlist to two candidates, with Alexander named among them.
Alexander’s links to Preston and recent record at Bradford
Alexander, 54, has a long association with Preston as a player, having made 372 league appearances across two spells at Deepdale and briefly acted as caretaker manager in 2011-12. He was appointed Bradford manager in November 2023 and led the club to promotion from League Two in his first full season. Bradford finished fourth in League One in 2025-26 but were beaten in the play-offs by Bolton Wanderers.
Current competitive context
- Bradford are reported to be top of League One early in the season, winning five of their first seven league matches.
- Preston are reportedly second from bottom in the Championship, with four points from eight matches and facing Millwall after the international break.
What is confirmed and what remains unconfirmed
Confirmed: Bradford City has officially acknowledged an approach from Preston and authorised Graham Alexander to speak to the Championship club. Multiple outlets have published Bradford’s statement and noted Alexander’s contractual status with Bradford.
Unconfirmed: There is no official confirmation that Alexander has accepted any role at Preston or that an offer has been made. Reports that Preston are down to two candidates come from local reporting rather than an official club announcement. Details such as any potential compensation, contract terms or whether Alexander will leave should talks progress have not been disclosed by either club.
Why this matters
If Alexander were to move, Bradford would lose the manager who delivered their recent promotion and oversaw a top-four League One finish last season. That would force Bradford to begin a managerial search while they are competing at the top of League One early in the campaign.
For Preston, appointing a manager with previous ties to the club and experience guiding lower-league teams upwards would represent an attempt to arrest a poor start to the season. The club’s immediate priority is stabilising results in the Championship.
What happens next — timeline and possible outcomes
- Preston complete talks with Alexander. Reports indicate they have shortlisted candidates and are in the advanced stages of recruitment.
- If Preston make a formal approach, Bradford could either refuse permission (uncommon once talks are agreed), grant permission for further discussions, or negotiate compensation if an appointment is to be made while Alexander remains under contract.
- Either club may issue further statements. Bradford’s club statement said it would make no further comment at this time.
Practical implications for fans and fixtures
Fans should expect any developments to be formally announced by the clubs involved. Until that happens, Alexander remains Bradford’s manager. Both clubs will continue preparing for forthcoming fixtures: Bradford in League One and Preston in their Championship schedule after the international break.
Bottom line
Bradford City have publicly allowed Graham Alexander to speak to Preston North End, describing the decision as reluctant. The approach reflects Preston’s urgency to change managers after a poor start, and Alexander’s strong ties to Deepdale and recent success at Bradford make him a notable candidate. No appointment has been confirmed and further statements from either club would be required to establish the next steps.