Preston North End are reportedly nearing an agreement to bring in Graham Alexander as their next manager, with the current Bradford City boss emerging as the leading candidate for the role.
Alexander has enjoyed a productive spell at Valley Parade, guiding Bradford City to the summit of League One this season after securing five victories from their opening seven fixtures. His work at the Yorkshire club has been widely regarded as impressive, having taken charge in November 2023 and immediately delivering promotion from League Two during his first full campaign at the helm.
Under his stewardship, Bradford consolidated their return to League One by finishing fourth in the 2025-26 standings, narrowly missing out on an immediate leap to the Championship after falling to Bolton Wanderers in the play-offs. Despite that disappointment, the foundations he laid appear to have set the club up for a strong follow-up campaign, with their current position at the top of the table underlining the progress made under his management.
The former Scotland international, who earned caps as a player before moving into coaching, brings a wealth of managerial experience to any potential move. Alexander has previously taken charge of several EFL clubs, including Fleetwood Town, Scunthorpe United, Salford City, MK Dons, as well as a spell north of the border with Motherwell. That varied background across multiple divisions has given him a broad understanding of both the promotion picture and the physical demands of lower-league football in England.
Notably, Alexander remains under contract with Bradford City until the end of next season, meaning any departure to Preston would likely require compensation to be agreed between the two clubs. Bradford's hierarchy will need to weigh up the timing of such a switch given the Bantams' promising form and position at the top of League One.
For Bradford, the disruption comes at an inconvenient moment in the calendar. Their scheduled League One fixture against Barnsley this weekend has already been postponed due to international call-ups affecting the squad, meaning their next league test will come on 3 October away at Reading. How the club responds to the prospect of losing its manager mid-season, particularly while riding high in the table, will be closely watched by supporters and rivals alike.
Meanwhile, Preston North End are looking to bolster their own prospects following what has been a challenging period at Deepdale. Bringing in a manager with Alexander's track record of steady progression and promotion success would represent a significant coup for the Lilywhites, who will be eager to build momentum heading into the busier part of the season.
Preston's first fixture after the upcoming international break is set for Saturday, 10 October, when they host Millwall at Deepdale. Should the managerial change be finalised before then, it could mark an early opportunity for Alexander to make his mark on the touchline in Lancashire, depending on how quickly any deal with Bradford City can be concluded.
With both the timing of the international break and the compensation package still to be sorted, neither club has yet confirmed the move, but signs increasingly point toward Alexander making the switch from Valley Parade to Deepdale in the coming days.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.