Bradford’s surge meets Graham Alexander’s pending exit
Bradford City have topped League One after a flawless start, yet the club faces uncertainty as 54‑year‑old Graham Alexander prepares to leave for Championship side Preston North End, a move slated for confirmation on Monday, 28 September, following weeks of speculation and a pending decision before the Saturday clash with Reading.
Benedict’s journalistic pedigree
Benedict graduated with a 2:1 (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton in September 2024, before achieving a Merit in MA Sports Journalism at Coventry University in 2025. He covered Rugby League and non‑league football matches for various sites and worked as an intern with Wolves’ Academy between 2023 and 2025.
Decision likely after Reading fixture
Local publication the Telegraph and Argus reported that a final decision on Alexander’s replacement may wait until Bradford’s clash with Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon. City have remained top of the League One table throughout the weekend despite the Yorkshire derby against Barnsley being postponed because of international call‑ups. The club’s early‑season form has made the timing of the managerial change particularly delicate.
It has been confirmed that Alexander will join Preston North End on Monday, 28 September, becoming the club’s new manager. The move follows an agreement that sees Alexander and his assistant Chris Lucketti cross the Pennines for a £500,000 compensation package. Preston’s previous manager Paul Heckingbottom was dismissed on 13 September after a winless start in the Championship.
During his tenure in West Yorkshire, Alexander won 80 of his 150 matches, guiding Bradford back to the third tier after a six‑year exile and finishing third in League Two in 2024/25. He also led the club to the play‑off semi‑finals last term, where they were beaten by Bolton Wanderers.
With Alexander’s departure, interim boss Mark Trueman, who has overseen the side on four occasions between 2020 and 2023, will manage the team ahead of the Reading game. He is assisted by goalkeeping coach Colin Doyle.
Reports suggest former Bantams defender Paul Heckingbottom, dismissed by Preston, could be considered for the Valley Parade job, while club legend Stuart McCall has also been linked if a deal materialises. The shortlist reportedly includes other names, some of which have already been ruled out.
The original brief even contains the words Like, Thread, Log, Here, Show, I’m and Give, reflecting the quirky prompts that accompanied the story’s compilation.