Preston closing in on Alexander appointment

Preston North End are closing in on the appointment of Bradford City boss Graham Alexander, BBC Radio Leeds understands.

Bradford released a statement on Thursday to confirm they had "reluctantly" given the 54-year-old permission to speak to the struggling Championship side.

North End are second bottom and sacked boss Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month after losing six of their first seven league games.

Alexander made 372 league appearances across two spells with the Deepdale side as a player.

He has led the Bantams to the top of League One with five wins from their first seven games of the season.

The former Scotland international 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.

Alexander, who has also had spells in charge of Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell and MK Dons, is contracted to the club until the end of next season.

Preston host Millwall in their first game after the international break on Saturday, 10 October.

Bradford's next League One fixture is on 3 October at Reading with their game this weekend against Barnsley postponed because of international call-ups.