Graham Alexander is being linked with a swift return to Preston North End after they dismissed manager Paul Heckingbottom on Sunday. The development places the Bradford City boss, a club legend at Deepdale, at the centre of immediate Championship speculation.
Heckingbottom's departure came after a dismal start to the season, with just one win and six defeats. His assistant, former Bradford City manager Stuart McCall, also left the club. The final straw was a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City, with Freddie Draper scoring a late winner from a long throw. Preston, along with Burnley, now sit bottom of the Championship.
Alexander's Preston pedigree
Alexander's connection to Preston is deep. He made over 400 appearances for the club across two spells and was named among their 21 greatest players of all time by the Lancashire Evening Post in 2024. His status as a fan favourite makes him a natural candidate for their board, who have a long-term pattern of hiring British managers.
Ryan Lowe, Heckingbottom's predecessor, was critical of the sacked manager's tenure on Sky Sports. "The £20 million Heckingbottom had spent meant he could have no excuses," Lowe said.
Bradford's strong position
The speculation arrives as Alexander's Bradford City are flying high. They sit third in League One with 12 points from six games, just one point behind leaders Sheffield Wednesday. Their recent form shows three consecutive wins, including a 1-0 victory at Notts County on Saturday thanks to a George Pratt goal.
Alexander has been in charge at Valley Parade for 34 months, achieving promotion from League Two and guiding the club to the League One play-offs last season. On a budget described as mid-table for the division, his work has been highly effective.
A history of abrupt exits
Despite his success in BD8, Alexander's managerial career has featured several sudden departures. He was sacked by Fleetwood Town in September 2015, dismissed by Scunthorpe United in March 2018, and fired by Salford City after just six games of the 2020/21 season despite being unbeaten. He left Motherwell in July 2022 and lasted only 16 games at MK Dons, though he did win a Manager of the Month award there.
The report from Width of a Post notes that while Alexander is a Preston legend, "the amazing success he’s delivered in BD8 makes him a Bradford City one too." For now, the focus remains on the pitch. Bradford City's next test is an away trip to face 12th-placed Luton on 19 September, a game that will be closely watched amid the mounting speculation.
