Ranking the top 7 best Graham Alexander replacements for Bradford City | OneFootball

We ranked the top 7 best replacements for Graham Alexander at Bradford City following his move to Preston North End.

Bradford City are starting the hunt for a new manager after Graham Alexander's departure to Championship side Preston North End.

Alexander had been in charge of Bradford since November 2023, and he led them to automatic promotion from League Two in the 2024-25 season, ending the club's six-year absence from League One.

The Bantams had an excellent first year back in the third tier last season, achieving a fourth-placed finish before losing to Bolton Wanderers in their play-off semi-final, and they have made a strong start to the current campaign, with the West Yorkshire outfit currently sitting top of the table after picking up 15 points from their first seven games.

However, after giving Alexander permission to hold talks with Preston last week, the 54-year-old has decided to return to the club where he made 410 appearances during his playing career, and his move to Deepdale was confirmed on Monday morning.

As Bradford begin the search for their next manager, we have ranked the seven best potential replacements for Alexander.

7 ? ? Stuart Maynard

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While he may not be the first name on the lips of Bradford supporters, Stuart Maynard could be an intriguing wildcard candidate for the role.

After establishing Wealdstone in the National League during his near three-year spell in charge at Grosvenor Vale, Maynard took over at League Two side Notts County in January 2024, and he led them to a sixth-placed finish in League Two in the 2024-25 season before being sacked following the play-off semi-final defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

Maynard made the move to York City in August 2025, and he guided them to the National League title last season with a remarkable total of 108 points, but the dramatic 1-1 draw at Rochdale on the final day proved to be his final game in charge as he was controversially dismissed in July, just three weeks before the start of the new campaign.

As Maynard has never managed above League Two level, his appointment would be something of a risk for Bradford, but the Bantams may look at how well the other manager who was involved in last season's epic title race, Jimmy McNulty, has fared since stepping up to League One with Stockport County and decide to give the 45-year-old a chance.

6 ? ? Gary Rowett

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If Bradford are keen to minimise disruption after Alexander's sudden exit, they could opt for a manager with a similar style of play to their former boss, which could lead them to Gary Rowett.

Rowett has been out of work since leaving Leicester City in the summer after failing to prevent their relegation from the Championship during his brief spell at the King Power Stadium, while he also suffered the same fate two years earlier in his interim stint at Birmingham City.

However, Rowett should not be blamed for either of those relegations, having walked into chaotic situations at both clubs, and given that his time at Burton Albion, Derby County, Millwall and Oxford United, as well as his first spell at Birmingham City, was much more successful, he could be the safe pair of hands the Bantams need after Alexander's departure.

5 ? ? Matt Bloomfield

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Matt Bloomfield is another manager with recent Championship relegations on his record after overseeing the demise of both Luton Town and Oxford in the past two seasons.

Luton initially opted to stick with Bloomfield after relegation before sacking him in October while sitting 11th in the League One table, while Oxford decided to part company with the 42-year-old in the summer ahead of their return to the third tier.

However, Bloomfield can consider himself unfortunate to have lost his job in both cases, and having proven himself to be a more than capable manager at third tier level during his spell at Wycombe Wanderers, he could be a shrewd appointment for Bradford if he is given sufficient time to implement his ideas at Valley Parade.

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With Bradford currently sitting top of the League One table, they will feel they have a strong chance of reaching the Championship this season, so promotion expert Darren Ferguson could be the right man to get them over the line.

Ferguson has achieved five promotions during his managerial career, including leading Peterborough United to the Championship on three occasions, so he certainly has the credentials that would likely appeal to the Bantams.

The 54-year-old has been out of work for almost a year since his fourth spell at Peterborough came to an end in October, but while the latter part of his most recent stint at the Weston Homes Stadium did not go to plan, it is difficult to blame him for Posh's struggles after many of his best players were sold, and he would have a far stronger squad at his disposal if he was to take over at Valley Parade.

3 ? ? Paul Heckingbottom

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It has been reported that Paul Heckingbottom is under consideration by Bradford as a possible replacement for Alexander in what would represent a sensational manager swap after his exit from Preston earlier this month.

Heckingbottom had a mixed two-year spell at Deepdale, leading the Lilywhites to 20th and 14th-placed finishes in the Championship respectively before being sacked after a nightmare start to this season, which saw his side lose six of their first seven games.

The 49-year-old has had two notable successes during his managerial career, having guided Barnsley to promotion to the Championship in 2016 and Sheffield United to promotion to the Premier League in 2023, but his stints at Leeds United, Hibernian and Preston have been much less impressive.

With that in mind, Heckingbottom's appointment would be something of a gamble for Bradford, but his style of football could be perfectly suited to the Bantams' squad, and he would also likely bring club legend Stuart McCall with him as his assistant.

2 ? ? Tom Cleverley

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Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley is another name to have been linked with Bradford in recent days, and it would be a serious coup if they were able to complete a raid of their League One promotion rivals.

Cleverley began his managerial career at Watford, but he was sacked last summer after leading the club to a 14th-placed finish in the Championship, much to the disappointment of Hornets supporters who had regularly voiced their support for their former midfielder.

The 37-year-old took over at Plymouth last June, and after a nightmare start to his tenure at Home Park, the Pilgrims were one of the form teams in League One in the second half of last season, eventually finishing eighth in the table and only missing out on the play-offs on the final day.

Argyle have continued their momentum into this season, with Cleverley's men currently sitting third after picking up 13 points from their first eight games, but it remains to be seen whether he could be tempted by a move to Valley Parade.

1 ? ? Dave Challinor

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When news of Alexander's possible departure first emerged last week, many Bradford supporters called for the club to make a move for Dave Challinor, and it is easy to see why he is their preferred candidate.

Challinor departed Stockport County in the summer after a hugely successful five-year stint at Edgeley Park in which he led the Hatters from the National League to League One, and they missed out on promotion to the Championship last season as they were beaten 4-1 by Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final.

Incredibly, Challinor has finished in the play-off places in each of his 15 full seasons as manager, so he would certainly fit the bill for the Bantams as they look to secure another top six finish this campaign.

After his impressive work at Stockport, Challinor may be keen to bide his time before getting back into management to see if any Championship opportunities arise, but the chance to take over a team at the top of League One could convince the 50-year-old to make a swift return to the dugout with Bradford.