What's happened
Graham Alexander has returned to Preston North End as manager, replacing sacked Paul Heckingbottom. The former player has led Bradford City to top of League One this season and will look to turn Preston's fortunes around after a poor start to the Championship campaign.
What's behind the headline?
Key angles
- Alexander is returning to a club where he is a club legend, which may boost player morale and fan support.
- His track record with Bradford City suggests he can stabilise a faltering side and push for improvement in the Championship.
- The two-week lead-in before the Millwall match provides time to implement a clear plan, but results may take longer than two games.
- Watch for how his previous affiliations (Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell, MK Dons) influence his recruitment and playing style.
Forecast
- Preston are likely to climb the table if the squad buys into his methods quickly; expect a more organised defensive shape and transition play that suits their current personnel.
- The appointment could also affect Bradford’s form and morale as they navigate a busy schedule while allowing Alexander to focus on Preston.
How we got here
Alexander, 54, made 372 league appearances for Preston across two spells and briefly served as caretaker manager in 2011-12. He has since managed several clubs and led Bradford City to promotion to League One in 2024-25.
Our analysis
BBC Business reports on Alexander's appointment and his Bradford tenure; Independent and The Scotsman confirm his return and comments from the manager; BBC Business again outlines the ongoing situation as Preston prepare for Millwall post-international break.
Go deeper
- What immediate changes will Alexander implement in training and selection?
- How will Bradford City respond to losing a manager who led them to top of League One?
- When can fans expect tangible improvements in Preston's league results?
More on these topics
-
Deepdale - Historic football stadium in England
Deepdale is a football stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England that is the home ground of Preston North End. Built in 1875 and in use since 1878, Deepdale is recognised as being one of the oldest continuously used football stadiums in the world, although the club's claim that it is the oldest is contested.
-
Graham Alexander - Football manager
Graham Alexander is a professional football manager and former player who manages EFL Championship club Preston North End. In a lengthy playing career, he represented Scunthorpe United, Luton Town, Preston North End and Burnley.
-
Paul Heckingbottom - English football coach
Paul Heckingbottom is an English football coach and former player. Heckingbottom played as a defender for several English clubs, including Sunderland, Scarborough, Hartlepool United, Darlington, Norwich City, Bradford City, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley a
-
Scunthorpe - Association football club in Scunthorpe, England
Scunthorpe United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. The team is nicknamed "The...
-
Valley Parade - Football stadium in Bradford, home to Bradford City A.F.C.
Valley Parade, known as the Utilita Energy Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Built in 1886, it was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from...
-
Motherwell F.C. - Association football club in Motherwell, Scotland
Motherwell Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, which plays in the Scottish Premiership. Motherwell have not dropped out of the top flight of Scottish football since 1985, and have lifted one troph
-
Preston - City in England
Preston is a city and the administrative centre of Lancashire, England, on the north bank of the River Ribble. The City of Preston local government district obtained city status in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II'
-
Fleetwood Town F.C. - Association football club in Fleetwood, England
Fleetwood Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. Established in 1997, the current Fleetwood Town F.C. is the fourth incarnation of the club, which was originally formed in 1908. Their home strip is red shirts with white sleeves and white shorts, and their home ground is Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood. Supporters of the club are known as the Cod Army, which is also used as a nickname for the club, alongside The Fishermen, the club's traditional nickname. They contest a rivalry with nearby Blackpool known as the Fylde Coast derby. The original club, founded in 1908, were known simply as Fleetwood. They won the Lancashire Combination in the 1923–24 season, but resigned from the league in February 1928, due to financial difficulties. Fleetwood Windsor Villa took their place in the Lancashire Combination and won three Lancashire Combination Cups in 1933, 1934 and 1935. The club became a founder member of the newly created Northern Premier League in 1968, but folded in 1976 and reformed the following year as Fleetwood Town. They initially...