Exclusive: Update On Bradford City Manager Search

Bradford City have cancelled the scheduled second interviews for several candidates that were due to take place tomorrow as a decision has been made and an appointment expected imminently, sources have informed Look Sports Media. 

The Bantams have been without a permanent manager for over a month now since the sacking of Mark Hughes last month. The club have engaged in a long process that has involved a wide range of candidates, eventually settling on Danny Cowley last week before the former Lincoln boss performed a u-turn due to family reasons.

Kevin McDonald stepped down as player-caretaker manager to focus on on the pitch matters, with Mark Trueman taking over for the FA Cup defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. Several candidates have been identified including David Artell, who is understood to no longer be in the running after the latest development.

Mark Hughes was sacked after a poor start to the season which saw the play-off semi-finalists lose ground on the leading pack. Form did improve under McDonald, but has since dropped off again with three losses and a draw in their previous four games. The former Premier League side sit 16th in the table after 16 games, closer in points to 24th place Sutton United than top of the league Stockport County.

Several names remain in the list that are yet to be ruled out including Joey Barton, who was recently sacked by League One side Bristol Rovers.

Writer’s View

It is important that not only the club make the right appointment but they do it quickly. Over a month in a busy and important season is destabilising and whoever comes in will have a mountain to climb to start competing at the top of the table and will most likely have to now look to finish well this season, perhaps a play-off spot and look to compete again next year unless there is a dramatic upturn when the new manager comes in.