Preston North End appoint Graham Alexander as manager
Preston North End have appointed Bradford City manager Graham Alexander as their new manager at Deepdale on 28 September 2026, the club confirmed, replacing Paul Heckingbottom after he was sacked following six defeats from their opening seven Championship games this season.
Alexander leaves Bradford City after taking charge in November 2023; he won 79 of his 158 games in charge, secured promotion from League Two in his first full season, and guided the club to a fourth-place finish in League One in 2025-26 before losing to Bolton Wanderers in the play-offs. Bradford are top of League One after seven games and have won five of their seven league matches this campaign, and the club said last Thursday it had "reluctantly" allowed the former Scotland international to speak to the second tier side.
As a player Alexander made 372 league appearances for Preston across two spells at Deepdale. He also had a brief caretaker spell in charge at Preston in 2011-12.
The 54-year-old's managerial CV includes spells in charge of Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell and MK Dons. His appointment at Deepdale reunites him with Preston's playing and coaching history.
Alexander will be joined at North End by his assistant, and former Preston team-mate, Chris Lucketti. On the club website Alexander said: "It's a special feeling to be named manager of this football club. After speaking to Preston, I knew this was the place I wanted to be."
Bradford chief executive Ryan Sparks paid tribute to Alexander and his team, saying: "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," and added: "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."
Preston return from the managerial change second bottom of the Championship with four points from eight matches. Alexander's first game as permanent Preston boss will be at home to Millwall on Saturday, 10 October.
