Bradford City have been warned that their impressive start to the season could eventually attract attention from Championship clubs looking for a new manager, with Graham Alexander potentially becoming a target as the campaign progresses.
EFL content creator Callum Fowler has suggested that Alexander’s outstanding work at Bradford City may not go unnoticed, particularly if Championship teams begin struggling and decide to make managerial changes. One club mentioned as a possible destination was Preston North End, a team with which Alexander has a strong personal and professional connection.
Bradford have made a perfect start to their League One campaign and currently stand out as the only team in the division to have won their opening two matches and collected the maximum six points. They began with a relatively comfortable 2-0 victory over Peterborough United before producing an even more impressive result by defeating Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Hillsborough.
The victory over Sheffield Wednesday was particularly significant because Bradford had to overcome a difficult first half. Wednesday were the stronger side during the opening 45 minutes and put the Bantams under considerable pressure. However, Alexander’s tactical adjustments helped change the course of the match. Bradford improved significantly after the interval, became the more effective team and ultimately looked comfortable as they secured an important away victory.
Alexander’s side have also shown that there appears to be no lingering disappointment from last season. Despite exceeding expectations after returning to League One following six years in League Two, Bradford narrowly missed out on promotion through the play-offs. Instead of allowing that setback to affect them, they have continued their strong form and begun the new season with renewed confidence and ambition.
Their consistency over a longer period has also been impressive. Since January 2025, Bradford have played 72 league matches, winning 37, drawing 16 and losing only 19. This has given them an average of 1.76 points per game, highlighting the sustained progress the club has made under Alexander’s leadership.
Speaking on the EFL podcast The Pyramid, Fowler expressed concern that Bradford’s biggest challenge this season might not simply be competing for promotion. Instead, he believes the club could face the possibility of losing Alexander if a Championship side becomes interested in appointing him.
During the discussion, co-host Tom Garratt pointed out that Sheffield Wednesday had performed well during the first half of their match against Bradford. Fowler agreed that Wednesday had started strongly but felt that Bradford were clearly the better team in the second half.
Fowler then explained that he was concerned a club such as Preston North End, or another Championship team, could attempt to lure Alexander away from Bradford as the season develops. In his view, Bradford have been one of the strongest and most organised teams he has seen so far. He believes they possess both the tactical structure and the quality of players needed to challenge at the top of League One.
Although Fowler was critical of the overall standard of the division, he still felt that Bradford’s organisation and the quality within their squad made them one of the standout teams. He suggested that Alexander’s ability to set up his side effectively could make him an attractive candidate for a Championship club seeking a new manager.
Preston North End were specifically mentioned because they had started the Championship season poorly, losing their opening two matches and failing to collect a point. With some observers predicting a difficult campaign for Preston, there could eventually be pressure on their manager, Paul Heckingbottom, if results do not improve.
However, Fowler also stressed that Preston would be making a mistake if they decided to dismiss Heckingbottom. Despite this, he acknowledged that if the club were to sack their current manager, Alexander could become a realistic candidate because of his history with Preston.
Alexander is widely regarded as a club legend at Deepdale due to his long and successful playing career with Preston North End. The 54-year-old spent eight seasons with the club during his first spell before joining Burnley in 2007. He later returned to Preston and eventually ended his playing career there in 2011.
During his time as a player, Alexander became one of the club’s most experienced and recognisable figures. He made 400 appearances during his first spell and eventually increased his total to 421 appearances after returning to the club. He was particularly known for his ability from set pieces and played an important role in Preston’s successful 1999/2000 campaign, when they won the third-tier title.
He was also part of Preston teams that reached the Championship play-offs in consecutive seasons in 2005 and 2006, although the club was unable to secure promotion to the Premier League. Alexander’s final moments as a professional footballer were also memorable, as he scored a free kick with the last kick of his career during a 2-2 draw against Charlton Athletic in the 2011/12 season.
His connection with Preston continued into management. Alexander began his managerial career at the club in 2011, taking temporary charge for five matches alongside David Unsworth following the dismissal of Phil Brown in December of that year.
Therefore, a potential return to Deepdale as manager would carry considerable emotional and historical significance. It would come approximately 15 years after his brief spell as caretaker manager and after a career in which he has gone on to manage six different clubs.
Alexander has also demonstrated his ability to achieve promotion, having guided three different clubs to promotion during his managerial career. However, despite his considerable experience, he has not yet managed in the Championship. A move to Preston or another second-tier club would therefore give him the opportunity to test himself at a higher level for the first time as a manager.
Nevertheless, Bradford City will hope that Alexander sees his best opportunity for Championship football as being with the Bantams rather than by joining another club. Given Bradford’s recent progress and their strong start to the season, there is a genuine possibility that Alexander could guide the club to promotion to the second tier himself.
The win over Sheffield Wednesday was also a major personal milestone for Alexander, as it marked his 150th match in charge of Bradford City. During those 150 games, he has overseen a remarkable period of consistency, guiding the club to back-to-back top-four finishes across the previous two seasons. He has won 74 of those 150 matches, further demonstrating his importance to Bradford’s revival.
The club are fully aware of how influential Alexander has been in their recent success. Having already helped establish Bradford as a competitive force again, he is now attempting to lead them towards a second promotion in three years. For that reason, keeping him at the club throughout the season could be just as important as retaining their key players.
A potential approach from Preston could be tempting because of Alexander’s deep connection with the club, but there are also reasons why he may choose to remain at Bradford. If Preston were struggling near the bottom of the Championship, taking over a team in a difficult situation could represent a significant risk. In contrast, Alexander currently has a growing and ambitious Bradford side that appears to be moving in the right direction.
Ultimately, Bradford supporters will hope that Alexander believes he can achieve his Championship ambitions by completing the project he has started at Valley Parade. If the Bantams continue their impressive form and remain in contention for promotion, managing Bradford in the second tier could be far more appealing than leaving midway through the season to take charge of a struggling Championship club.
For now, Alexander remains central to Bradford City’s progress, but if his team continues to perform strongly, interest from clubs at a higher level could become an increasingly important issue as the season unfolds.
