Bradford City's search for a new manager has taken its first definitive turn, with Paul Heckingbottom understood to have withdrawn himself from the process, according to BBC Radio Leeds reporter Jamie Raynor.

Heckingbottom, 49, had been linked with the vacancy left by Graham Alexander's departure to Preston North End, a move that has left a sizeable portion of the Bantams support with an understandable sense of grievance. The irony of Heckingbottom's name being mentioned was not lost on anyone: Alexander took the Bradford job after Heckingbottom was sacked at Deepdale. A straight swap, however, it will not be.

The former Barnsley and Sheffield United manager did make 104 appearances for Bradford across two spells as a player, and he knows the third tier well enough. But it is understood he has chosen not to pursue the role, reducing the field by one and allowing the club to concentrate on other candidates.

Who remains in the frame?

Three names have been mentioned publicly at this stage: Michael Duff and Dave Challinor, both currently without clubs, and Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley. Of the three, Raynor suggests Duff makes the most obvious sense on paper.

Duff won promotion to League One with Cheltenham Town in 2021 and guided Barnsley to the League One play-off final two years later. He shared a dressing room with Alexander during their time together at Burnley, which at least offers the prospect of cultural continuity in how the club goes about its football. His subsequent spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Huddersfield Town did not end particularly well, though both exits came earlier than might have been expected. He was sacked by Wycombe at the start of September, meaning his appointment would cost Bradford nothing in compensation.

Challinor, similarly available, has experience at this level. Cleverley's situation is more complicated, given Plymouth would presumably require compensation were Bradford to pursue him formally.

The report is clear that there are other candidates being assessed who have not yet entered the public conversation. The board, by Raynor's account, are prepared to pay a working manager out of their contract if the right person is identified.

What Alexander left behind

Whatever happens next, the incoming manager inherits something worth having. Alexander's record across 158 games brought 79 wins, the best home record of any club across Europe's top five leagues and the EFL in 2025, and a promotion from League Two two seasons ago. Bradford currently sit at the top of League One, built around a well-drilled defensive structure and a clear, defined style of play.

The last time Bradford had a manager poached mid-season was 1983, when Roy McFarland left for Derby County. The precedent is uncomfortable, but the playing squad at least knows what it is doing. Interim coaches Mark Trueman and Colin Doyle will take charge for Saturday's trip to Reading while the board completes its deliberations.

Patience the watchword

The message coming from Valley Parade, as relayed by Raynor, is that the board will not rush this. Given what is at stake, namely a genuine push for promotion to the Championship, that caution is understandable. A poor appointment now could unravel three years of careful work. A good one could make Alexander's exit feel less catastrophic within a matter of months.

Bradford supporters have every right to feel unsettled. What the club appears to be resisting, for now at least, is the temptation to react to that anxiety by moving too quickly. Whether the patience holds, and whether the right candidate emerges from what sounds like a reasonably broad search, is the question the next week or two will answer.

Frequently asked

Why is Paul Heckingbottom not becoming Bradford City manager?
According to BBC Radio Leeds, Heckingbottom has withdrawn himself from the process. No reason has been given publicly.
Who is in charge of Bradford City while they look for a new manager?
Interim coaches Mark Trueman and Colin Doyle are taking charge of the team and are expected to be in the dugout for the trip to Reading on Saturday.
Who are the leading candidates to become Bradford City manager?
Michael Duff, Dave Challinor and Plymouth's Tom Cleverley have been mentioned. Duff, currently without a club, is reported to be of particular interest. The board are also monitoring other names not yet in the public domain.