Bradford City are braced for the departure of manager Graham Alexander after Preston North End moved to appoint him as their new head coach, according to a report from BBC Radio Leeds.

Bradford confirmed on Thursday that they had "reluctantly" given Preston permission to speak to the 54-year-old, a form of words that tends to signal a deal is already close to done. Preston, who sacked Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month after losing six of their first seven Championship games, are second from bottom of the second tier and evidently feel that urgency demands a quick appointment.

What Alexander has built at Valley Parade

The timing is awkward, to put it mildly. Alexander took charge at Valley Parade in November 2023 and won promotion from League Two in his first full season. Bradford then finished fourth in League One in 2025-26, losing to Bolton Wanderers in the play-offs, and this season they have started as well as anyone in the division: five wins from seven League One games, sitting top of the table with what has been described as the best defensive record in the EFL.

In other words, Preston are not coming for a manager who has been ticking over. They are coming for one who has built something, and Bradford's supporters have every right to feel aggrieved. There is a reasonable argument that the Bantams, finally back in the third tier after years of drift, are losing their architect just as the foundations look solid.

Alexander, a former Scotland international who made 372 league appearances across two spells as a player at Deepdale, has previously managed Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell and MK Dons. His contract at Bradford runs until the end of next season, but the club's willingness to grant permission for talks suggests they may not have the financial muscle, or the appetite for a prolonged dispute, to keep him.

Bradford's next steps

Bradford's next League One fixture is on 3 October, away at Reading, after this weekend's home game against Barnsley was postponed due to international call-ups. That gives the club a short window to confirm the managerial picture before competitive football resumes.

Whoever succeeds Alexander, if the deal goes through, inherits a squad that is clearly performing above where many expected Bradford to be at this point. The danger, as any supporter of a club in transition knows, is that a team built around a manager's specific methods and relationships can wobble quickly when that manager walks out of the door.

The club have not yet announced a departure, and it is worth remembering that "closing in" is not the same as "done". Talks can collapse. But the direction of travel looks clear, and Bradford fans will be watching developments at Deepdale closely over the next 48 hours.

Whether the board moves swiftly to appoint a replacement, or whether there is a period of uncertainty at the top of the table, remains to be seen. What is not in doubt is that Bradford City, the early pace-setters in League One, face a significant off-field distraction at precisely the moment when everything on the pitch was pointing in the right direction.

Frequently asked

Is Graham Alexander leaving Bradford City?
Bradford City have given Preston North End permission to speak to Alexander, and BBC Radio Leeds reports that Preston are closing in on his appointment. No departure has been formally confirmed yet.
Who would replace Graham Alexander at Bradford City?
Bradford have not announced a successor. If Alexander leaves, the club will need to appoint a new manager quickly, with a League One fixture away at Reading scheduled for 3 October.
How has Bradford City been performing under Alexander this season?
Bradford have won five of their first seven League One games and sit top of the table, with the best defensive record in the EFL according to recent reports.