Preston North End closing in on Graham Alexander appointment

Preston North End are closing in on the appointment of Bradford City boss Graham Alexander. The League One club confirmed on Thursday that they had "reluctantly" granted the 54-year-old permission to hold discussions with the struggling Championship side.

Alexander is a familiar face at Deepdale, having made 372 league appearances for the Lilywhites during his playing career. Preston are currently sitting second from bottom in the Championship table, following the departure of Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month after a run of six defeats in their first seven league games.

Since taking charge at Valley Parade in November 2023, the former Scotland international has led the Bantams to the top of the League One standings, securing five wins from their first seven matches this season. His managerial experience includes spells at Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell, and MK Dons.

Preston are set to host Millwall on 10 October after the international break. Bradford, meanwhile, have their next fixture against Reading on 3 October, following the postponement of their weekend game against Barnsley due to international call-ups.