It has been a hectic few days in the third tier, and the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast has devoted a chunk of its latest episode to picking over the wreckage and the excitement in equal measure. Presenter Aaron Paul and former midfielder Jobi McAnuff were joined by Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans and Barnet boss Dean Brennan to talk through what has been, by any measure, a headline-grabbing week for League One.

Bradford: a vacancy that keeps on giving

Graham Alexander's departure to Preston has left Bradford City casting around for a new manager, and the panel were candid about how unusual the situation is. The club had been top of the table, boasting what had been described as the best defensive record in the entire EFL, and now finds itself needing to replace a manager who left mid-season for a club two divisions above. The podcast's take was that Bradford have a genuine selling point, given the league position, but that the very fact Alexander was poachable so quickly raises questions about what exactly the attraction at Valley Parade is for a high-calibre candidate. Our own coverage has noted that figures close to the club have called the search "unique for all" involved, and the BBC discussion did nothing to suggest that was an overstatement.

Steve Heckingbottom, already publicly linked and already publicly ruled out, got a mention as an example of how quickly these conversations can move. The panel did not speculate beyond what has been reported, which is probably the sensible approach when a club is, by all appearances, still working through its shortlist.

Peterborough: Savage and the prospect of a new era

The other major talking point was Peterborough United and the reported approach to Robbie Savage. The podcast discussed what Savage's arrival would mean for a club that sacked Darren Ferguson's successor, Huw Williams, after the defeat to Doncaster and has been searching for a new direction. The panel seemed genuinely interested in whether a high-profile name with limited managerial experience could galvanise a club that has the infrastructure and fanbase to push for promotion but has not yet found the right fit in the dugout this season.

It is worth noting, as the podcast's contributors did, that Savage being "offered" the role, as has been reported, is not the same as Savage taking it. Attribution matters here: this is still a story in motion, not a done deal.

Wycombe: Ings and the instant impact

On a rather more cheerful note for fans of Adams Park, the discussion turned to Danny Ings' debut for Wycombe Wanderers, in which the veteran forward marked his first appearance with a goal in a 2-2 draw. The podcast highlighted the signing as a statement of ambition from a club that has quietly put together one of the more intriguing squads in the division. Pairing Ings with a side already showing defensive solidity, as the Wycombe goalkeeper signing of Joe Wildsmith earlier in the window also suggested, points to a club building with some purpose.

The broader point made on the podcast was that League One this season has genuine depth and genuine intrigue: three clubs in the news for very different reasons in the space of a single week, none of it manufactured, all of it consequential for the promotion and relegation picture.

A division worth watching

Listeners looking for a long-form take on the week's events will find the full episode on BBC Sounds. Evans and Brennan, both managing League Two clubs, brought an outsider-looking-in perspective that was occasionally more illuminating than the inside view. Evans, in particular, was characteristically forthright. Whether you agree with his assessments or not, he rarely leaves you in doubt about what he thinks.

For Bradford, Peterborough and Wycombe supporters, this is a week that has changed at least one of those clubs' immediate futures and may yet change two more. The podcast captured the mood well: something between fascination and mild disbelief, which is about right for League One in full swing.

Frequently asked

Who is favourite to be the next Bradford City manager?
No appointment has been confirmed. Several names have been linked since Graham Alexander left for Preston, but the club has not publicly confirmed a shortlist. Reports suggest the search is at an early stage.
Has Robbie Savage been appointed Peterborough United manager?
Not as of the latest reports. Savage has reportedly been offered the role, but no appointment has been announced. The situation remains ongoing.
How did Danny Ings get on in his Wycombe Wanderers debut?
Ings scored on his debut for Wycombe in a 2-2 draw, making an immediate impression after signing for the club earlier in the transfer window.