Next Preston Manager: Bradford Grant Permission for Graham Alexander Talks
Preston North End's search for a new head coach has taken a decisive turn, with Bradford City confirming they have granted the Championship strugglers permission to speak to manager Graham Alexander about the Deepdale vacancy.
The Lilywhites have been without a permanent manager since sacking Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month, following six defeats from their opening seven league games. Coach Jason Euell has been in interim charge since.
"Bradford City AFC can confirm we have been approached by Preston North End to speak to Graham Alexander regarding the Championship side's managerial vacancy," the Bantams said in a statement.
"Reluctantly, Bradford City has granted permission for Graham to speak to Preston North End."
BBC Radio Lancashire reports that Preston are now down to their final two candidates for the role.
Preston sit second-bottom of the Championship with four points from eight matches, and return from the international break to host Millwall on Saturday, 10 October, likely under a new manager.
UK betting sites are yet to price up a market on Heckingbottom's permanent successor.
Who Is Graham Alexander?
Alexander, 54, is a Deepdale legend as a player, having had two spells with Preston and made 372 league appearances for the club.
He also had a five-game spell in caretaker charge in 2011-12 before ending his playing career with the Lilywhites at the end of that season, aged 40.
The former Scotland international, who won 40 caps, went on to manage Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford and Motherwell before a two-year spell in charge of MK Dons.
He took over at Bradford City's Valley Parade in November 2023 and led them to automatic promotion from League Two in his first full season in charge, sealed with a dramatic injury-time winner.
The Bantams kicked on in League One last season, never leaving the top six before finishing fourth in 2025-26 and losing to Bolton Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals.
Bradford are currently top of League One with five wins from their first seven games of the 2026-27 season, built on the best defensive record in the division and an attacking 3-4-3 system. Alexander is contracted to the club until the end of next season.
He has never managed above League One, which some Preston fans see as a risk given the size of the rebuild required in the Championship, but he arrives with a genuine emotional connection to the club as a former player.
Should Alexander leave Valley Parade, Bradford are expected to consider former Stockport County boss Dave Challinor, among others, as a replacement.
This page will be updated as talks progress or a new manager is confirmed.
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