Bradford City have “reluctantly” given Championship strugglers Preston North End permission to speak to boss Graham Alexander about their managerial vacancy.

Paul Heckingbottom was sacked after two years in charge of North End earlier this month following six defeats in their opening seven league games.

Alexander, 54, had two spells at Deepdale as a player and made 372 league appearances for the club.

He had a five-game spell in caretaker charge in 2011-12 before ending his playing career with the Lilywhites at the end of that season, aged 40.

“Bradford City AFC can confirm we have been approached by Preston North End to speak to Graham Alexander regarding the Championship side’s managerial vacancy,” the Bantams said in a statement., external

“Reluctantly, Bradford City has granted permission for Graham to speak to Preston North End.”

BBC Radio Lancashire reports that Preston are down to their final two candidates for the role.

The Bantams are top of League One with five wins from their first seven games of the season.

Alexander took over at Valley Parade in November 2023 and led them to promotion from League Two in his first full season in charge.

They finished fourth in League One in 2025-26 before losing to Bolton Wanderers in the play-offs.

The former Scotland international, who has also had spells in charge of Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford, Motherwell and MK Dons, is contracted to the club until the end of next season.

Preston are second bottom of the Championship with four points from eight matches and host Millwall in their first game after the international break on Saturday, 10 October.