Bradford City eyeing ex-Huddersfield Town boss as new Paul Heckingbottom update dropped | OneFootball

Bradford City are looking at Michael Duff amidst their hunt to replace Graham Alexander

Bradford City have reportedly narrowed their search for a new manager to a three-person shortlist, and former Wycombe Wanderers boss Michael Duff is one of the candidates.

The Bantams are in a peculiar position, currently, in that they sit atop the League One table but are on the hunt for a new manager after Graham Alexander was poached by Preston North End.

It was a move which felt inevitable, despite the good feeling Alexander helped create at Valley Parade, as the new Preston boss carved out a legendary playing career at Deepdale, making 410 appearances for the club over two spells.

But now, the focus for Bradford is on making a swift appointment, and the right one, too, to continue the momentum that the club has generated under the former manager.

Michael Duff is in the race to become new Bradford City manager

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According to Alan Nixon, Bradford are looking to move fast and have narrowed their search to three names. One of those is Michael Duff, who has only recently been out of work after he became the first EFL boss to be sacked this season after a slow start at Wycombe.

The Chairboys did have a difficult opening five games on paper, though, facing off with the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Stockport County and Sheffield Wednesday, and while the side have picked up seven points from nine under interim boss Tom Hounsell, many expected a similar upturn in form if they'd have stuck with Duff.

The ex-Wycombe boss has plenty of experience at League One level in Yorkshire too, having taken Barnsley to the play-off final in the 2022/23 campaign, before being the first manager to fall victim to the hefty expectations at Bradford's rivals Huddersfield Town a couple of seasons ago.

Alan Nixon reports further that, alongside Duff, fellow former Barnsley boss and Alexander's predecessor at Preston, Paul Heckingbottom, is in the frame and talks are expected in the coming days, with the third candidate on the shortlist still unknown.

How Bradford City fans have reacted to the prospect of Michael Duff becoming their new manager

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Given how much of an impact Graham Alexander made as Bradford manager, there's always going to be some reservation about the man who ends up taking his place in the Valley Parade dugout. In an ideal world, this wouldn't be a scenario Bantams fans would be in.

Therefore, understandably, the reaction to the possibility of former Huddersfield boss Duff coming to the club is mixed, with the majority erring on the side of rejection.

"Duff’s been a one-season-and-out guy nearly everywhere he’s managed. Probably not the best choice?" one fan questioned on X. Another echoed that sentiment, stating, "Apart from Cheltenham, I don't think he's managed a full season at a club without being sacked!!!"

"Please god no, I’m open to most things but not this bloke…. #bcafc," a third added. "Totally agree. Far better options out there," someone responded.

There was the odd comment in support of the possibility. One fan wrote, "Micheal duff is decent tbf."

However, the overarching feeling amongst the Bradford fanbase is that Duff would be a step in the wrong direction, and if the West Yorkshire side are going to continue this strong start, they'll need to do it with someone else in the dugout.

Michael Duff needs his next job to offer a resurgence — Bradford City may not be it

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There's little doubt about Michael Duff's credentials as a manager. However, since leaving Barnsley off the back of that 4th-placed finish in League One in 2022/23, his stock has dropped significantly.

The Swansea City job proved to be a step too far, and back in the third tier, he hasn't been able to replicate his success at Oakwell at both Huddersfield and Wycombe.

It seems like a long time ago now since Duff was being talked up as one of the more promising coaches in the EFL thanks to his successful spell at Cheltenham Town, which bled into Barnsley. His next job needs to recapture that, but the Bradford role may not be the right one.

Whoever steps into the Valley Parade dugout will have massive shoes to fill, and even the slightest dip in form could lead the passionate Bradford fanbase to sour on Graham Alexander's successor.

Duff hasn't succeeded at a club with promotion expectations in his last two jobs at this level, and while bringing Bradford back to the Championship would serve as a way to up his stock significantly, there's few who feel he could do that right now.