Bradford City go to Reading this afternoon top of League One but still without a permanent manager.
The betting on who replaces Graham Alexander has swung wildly since he left for Preston on Monday. Paul Heckingbottom started the week as joint favourite but has withdrawn from the running. Michael Duff is now the favourite to take over at Valley Parade, and Gary Rowett is the second favourite.
BetVictor is the only bookmaker pricing the market. It has Duff at 4/7, Rowett at 2/1 and Dave Challinor, the third favourite, at 3/1. Interim boss Mark Trueman takes charge at the Select Car Leasing Stadium at 3pm, with the Bantams one point clear of Sheffield Wednesday after seven games.
Next Bradford City Manager Odds
Who is favourite to be the next Bradford City Manager?
| Selection | Best odds | Best at | Worst odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Duff | 4/7 | BetVictor | 4/7 |
| Gary Rowett | 2/1 | BetVictor | 2/1 |
| Dave Challinor | 3/1 | BetVictor | 3/1 |
| Stephen Bradley | 16/1 | BetVictor | 16/1 |
| Mark Trueman | 20/1 | BetVictor | 20/1 |
| Nigel Clough | 20/1 | BetVictor | 20/1 |
| Alan Sheehan | 25/1 | BetVictor | 25/1 |
| Paul Heckingbottom | 25/1 | BetVictor | 25/1 |
| Tom Cleverley | 25/1 | BetVictor | 25/1 |
| Danny Cowley | 33/1 | BetVictor | 33/1 |
Bradford City Manager Odds Movement
Duff was a 10/1 shot with BetVictor at lunchtime on Monday. By Tuesday evening he had been cut to 2/5. He drifted to 5/2 on Thursday lunchtime as Rowett took over at the top of the market, then was backed again to 4/7 by Friday afternoon.
Rowett's week was just as dramatic. He was out to 33/1 on Tuesday, then was cut through 12/1, 4/1 and 2/1 on Wednesday morning, and reached 1/3 by Thursday lunchtime. He has since eased to 2/1. Challinor went from 16/1 on Thursday night to 13/8 on Friday morning before settling at 3/1. Heckingbottom was 2/1 on Monday and is now out to 25/1.
Michael Duff: Bradford City Manager Favourite
Duff has been out of work since Wycombe sacked him on 8 September, so Bradford would have no compensation to pay. He took Cheltenham up to League One and led Barnsley to the 2023 League One play-off final. He also played alongside Alexander at Burnley. Reports suggest he has already been interviewed.
The case against him is a run of short spells at Swansea, Huddersfield and Wycombe. He would also start with a one-match touchline ban to serve.
Gary Rowett and Dave Challinor: Bradford Manager Contenders
Rowett is available after leaving Leicester following their relegation. He has more than 600 EFL games behind him and plays a pragmatic style similar to Alexander's, but he has never managed in League One.
Challinor left Stockport by mutual consent on 1 June. He won two promotions there and reached last season's League One play-off final. Bradford-raised Tom Cleverley is 25/1. He's under contract at Plymouth, a promotion rival, so Bradford would have to pay compensation to get him.
Mark Trueman: Bradford Caretaker Manager at Reading
Trueman was joint manager with Conor Sellars in 2020-21 and hasn't ruled himself out. "It is a position that in the future I definitely want to go back into… but at this moment in time, my job is to focus on the team," he said. On the style of play, he added: "We've got to keep it."
The club hasn't set a timeline, but reports suggest a decision could come after the weekend.
