Graham Alexander has broken his silence on speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job at Preston North End. The Bradford City boss, a former Preston player, acknowledged the rumours but insisted his focus remains on his current club.
Preston parted ways with manager Paul Heckingbottom on Sunday after a dismal run of one win in seven Championship games. The decision leaves the club 23rd in the table with just three points, having lost four of their last five matches. The search for a successor is underway, with Alexander emerging as a leading candidate given his history with the Lilywhites.
Speaking ahead of Bradford's weekend fixture, the 54-year-old addressed the links directly. "It is not the first time I have been linked with Preston North End given my relationship with the football club," Alexander said. He added that he avoids the noise of speculation, telling reporters, "I am not on social media so I have not seen anything first hand."
Alexander argued that such talk is a positive reflection on his work at Valley Parade. He said speculation arises because he has a good team that is winning games, and he remains at peace with the unpredictable nature of football management. His sole focus, he stated, is preparing Bradford to win their next match on Saturday.
His record at Bradford supports the interest. Alexander took over in November 2023 and led the club to automatic promotion from League Two in the 2025/26 season. They finished fourth in League One last term and currently sit third after winning four of their opening six games this campaign.
Back at Deepdale, the situation is starkly different. Heckingbottom's tenure, which began in August 2024, ended with 33 wins from 109 games. The immediate concern is halting a slide that has seen Preston concede 13 goals while scoring only six. Their next challenge is a trip to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, a game for which caretaker staff will likely be in charge. Key players Ali McCann and Brad Potts remain sidelined, adding to the difficulty of the task. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the current standings.
The club has not commented publicly on its managerial search, leaving supporters to wait for news from the Deepdale hierarchy. For now, Graham Alexander's public stance is one of commitment to Bradford City, even as his name circulates loudly in Lancashire.
Further reading: VAVEL.com
