Bradford City has "reluctantly" allowed Championship team Preston North End to speak with their manager, Graham Alexander, about a potential move to take charge of the struggling club. Preston recently dismissed their manager, Paul Heckingbottom, after just two years in charge and a poor start to the season, with six league losses in their first seven games. Alexander, 54, has a long history with Preston North End, having played for them for over 300 league games and serving as a caretaker manager in 2011-12 before retiring as a player at the age of 40. In a statement, Bradford City confirmed they had been contacted by Preston North End regarding Alexander. The club said it had "reluctantly" given permission for him to speak with the Championship side about the managerial vacancy. According to BBC Radio Lancashire, Preston are down to their final two candidates for the job, suggesting Alexander is a serious contender for the role. Bradford City, currently leading League One with five wins from their first seven games of the season, appointed Alexander as manager in November 2023. Under his leadership, the club was promoted from League Two in his first full season and finished fourth in League One in the 2025-26 campaign before losing in the play-off final to Bolton Wanderers. Alexander has also managed several other clubs, including Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell, and MK Dons, and his current contract with Bradford runs until the end of the 2026-27 season. Preston North End, currently second from the bottom of the Championship with only four points from eight games, are preparing for a crucial match against Millwall on Saturday, 10 October, following the international break. The club is under pressure to find a new manager quickly as they look to avoid relegation from the second tier of English football.