Bradford City Set to Appoint Michael Duff as Manager
Bradford City are poised to name Michael Duff as their new manager, replacing Graham Alexander who departed for Preston North End.
Bradford City are set to appoint Michael Duff as their new manager, tasking the 48-year-old with maintaining the club's strong start to the League One season. Duff replaces Graham Alexander, who left Valley Parade to become manager of Championship side Preston North End.
The former Northern Ireland international has managed Cheltenham Town, Barnsley, Swansea City and Huddersfield Town, and was most recently in charge at Wycombe Wanderers until his dismissal last month. At Cheltenham, his first managerial role, he secured promotion from League Two and later guided the club to a highest-ever 15th-place finish in League One in 2021-22. He then moved to Barnsley, where the team finished fourth but lost the play-off final to Sheffield Wednesday. Subsequent spells at Swansea and Huddersfield were shorter, with Swansea ending after six months in December 2023 and Huddersfield concluding in March the following year.
Bradford currently sit second in League One with 16 points, level with leaders Plymouth Argyle having played a game fewer. The club believes Duff can continue the high-energy, 3-4-3 style implemented by Alexander, which helped take the team from League Two to the upper reaches of League One. Duff and Alexander were teammates at Burnley during their playing careers.
Supporters have reacted with a mix of optimism and caution to the expected appointment. Some backers point to Duff's promotion success at Cheltenham as evidence he can sustain Bradford's push at the top of the table, while others note his recent struggles at Swansea, Huddersfield and Wycombe as reasons for concern. The club has not yet made an official announcement.
Bradford travel to League Two Rotherham in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday before hosting Leyton Orient in the league on Saturday.
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