Former MK Dons boss Graham Alexander leaves Bradford City and takes Preston North End role

Former MK Dons boss Graham Alexander has been appointed as the new manager of Championship side Preston North End, with the former Scotland international having left Bradford City.

The 54-year-old has moved to Deepdale, where he has signed a contract of undisclosed length to take over with the Lilywhites as a successor for Paul Heckingbottom, who left Preston earlier this month.

The move sees Alexander return to a club he represented as a player, making 372 league appearances in two separate spells and retiring as a player at Deepdale in 2012.

Alexander’s long-time assistant Chris Lucketti, who worked with him at MK Dons, also made the move from West Yorkshire to Lancashire.

Preston will be hoping for a new manager bounce, having won just one of the first 8 games of the Championship season. They sit 23rd in the table. Meanwhile, Alexander’s former employer Bradford will be seeking to build on a flying start that Alexander had enjoyed, with Bradford currently top of League One.

In a statement on the official Preston website, Alexander voiced his delight to make the move to take over at Deepdale.

He 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. I had an amazing time here as a player and it’s great to be back.

“At previous clubs, we’ve always improved league positions and created a team that people can appreciate and attach themselves to.

“I want to win, I want to be successful, and a big part of that is having ambitions.”

Bradford had “reluctantly” given permission to Alexander to talk to Preston last week, with the move ending a near-3 year association between manager and Bantams.

Alexander had taken over at Bradford in November 2023 in his first role after leaving MK Dons, who he left the previous month. The former Scotland international won promotion from League Two in the 2024/25 season and then reached the League One play-offs last season.

In a statement, Bradford City’s chief executive officer Ryan Sparks said: “On behalf of everyone at Bradford City, we would like to thank Graham and Chris for the enormous contribution they have made to our club over almost three years.

“During their time here, the club has broken a number of significant records and Graham and Chris have played a hugely important part in our progress. We have enjoyed a brilliant relationship with them both and shared some very special moments together.

“Preston North End made a formal approach to us on Wednesday afternoon and, following discussions, Graham made clear that he wished to explore it. Permission was subsequently granted for talks to take place.

“Those discussions took place 24 hours later, after which Graham confirmed he wished to accept Preston’s offer. Appropriate terms were then agreed between the clubs to allow the move to proceed. We knew managing in the Championship was an ambition of Graham’s and, given his long-standing connection with Preston, understood why he wanted to pursue the move.

“Our responsibility throughout was to act in the best interests of Bradford City. Once terms had been agreed on that basis, we felt it was important to respect the wishes of Graham and Chris.

“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. They should be immensely proud of what they have achieved here.”

Alexander previously managed MK Dons in a brief spell at the start of the 2023/24 season, having been appointed as a replacement for Mark Jackson after the club’s relegation from League One. He left the Dons after just 16 games in charge, with an 8 match winless run seeing him leave MK Dons in October 2023.