Graham Alexander: Preston North End appoint of Bradford boss

Alexander will be joined at North End by his assistant, and former Preston team-mate, Chris Lucketti.

They return with the club second bottom of the Championship with four points from eight matches.

Bradford, who are top of League One after seven games, confirmed last Thursday that they had “reluctantly” allowed the former Scotland international to speak to the second tier club.

He took over at Valley Parade in November 2023 and won promotion from League Two in his first full season in charge.

They finished fourth in League One in 2025-26 before losing to Bolton Wanderers in the play-offs and have won five of their seven league games this campaign.

“They leave Bradford City in a much stronger position than the one they inherited, with firmer foundations in place for the club to continue moving forward,” chief executive Ryan Sparks told the club website., external

“They should be immensely proud of what they have achieved here.

“We will always be grateful for everything they have given the club, and hope our supporters will join us in wishing them and their families nothing but success for the future.”

Alexander, who had a brief caretaker spell in charge at Preston in 2011-12, has also had spells in charge of Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell and MK Dons.

His first game as permanent Preston boss will be at home to Millwall on Saturday, 10 October.