Next Bradford City Manager Odds

Bradford City are on the search for a new manager following the dismissal of Mark Hughes at Valley Parade.

The Bantams had high hopes when they appointed the 59-year-old Welshman back in February 2022 and even managed to reach the League Two play-off semi-finals last season, but, they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by eventual winners Carlisle United.

Since then, Bradford have struggled to meet expectations, as they are currently lingering in 11th place, with 19 points from 13 matches. Hughes’ overall record at Bradford stands at 31 wins, 26 draws and 25 matches, leaving him with a win percentage of 37.8%.

Former Burnley and Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald is the favourite for the job having impressed so far since becoming Interim Manager.

So far, the 34-year-old Scot has led the Bantams to back-to-back 1-0 league wins over Swindon Town and AFC Wimbledon, as well as a narrow 2-1 away win over Grimsby Town in the EFL Trophy.

McDonald is also on Bradford's playing staff having made eight appearances in League Two for the club this season while creating three assists and would likely be keen to impress in an attempt to get the job on a permanent basis, especially when considering the size of the club and Bradford's overall promotion chances.

Could Leam Richardson become the Bantams' next manager having shown his capabilities in higher divisions?

The 43-year-old was sacked by Wigan earlier on back in November 2022 and had done a good job at the DW Stadium, having saved the club from relegation in League One during 2020/21 following financial troubles, before getting the Latics promoted to the Championship last season as they won the league title.

But, following a run of six losses in seven games this season, which saw Wigan sit in the Championship’s relegation zone, Richardson was sacked to the disappointment of many Wigan fans. Richardson ended his time at the Latics with 49 wins and 30 draws from 117 matches across all competitions, equating to a 42% win rate.

Ex-Bradford City midfielder Neil Redfearn has become a potential outsider for the job.

The 58-year-old made a total of 17 league appearances for the Bantams in the 1999/2000 season and has a plethora of managerial experience, having managed the likes of Leeds United, Rotherham United, Newcastle Under 23s and also Women's football teams such as Doncaster Belles, Liverpool Women and Sheffield United Women.

Redfearn was most recently a caretaker assistant manager at Oldham Athletic alongside Steven Thompson following the sacking of David Unsworth at Boundary Park. During this time, the Latics managed to win three and draw three of their six matches under the management of Thompson and Redfearn.

Ex-Celtic manager Neil Lennon makes a shock appearance on this list for the job at Valley Parade.

The former Northern Ireland international has not managed a side in Great Britain since he left the Hoops in February 2021 with his team faltering badly in their attempt to win a tenth Scottish Premiership title in a row.

His last job in general came as manager of Omonia Nicosia, where he oversaw 29 matches, winning 11 and drawing eight, leaving him with a win percentage of 37.9%.

As a manager, the 50-year-old has won five Scottish Premiership titles, as well as four Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup having managed the Celtic Park club between March 2010 and May 2014, as well as his most recent spell from February 2019 until February 2021.

Lennon also managed to earn Hibernian promotion back to the Scottish Premiership in the 2016/17 season and consolidated the Easter Road club’s place in the SPL. Prior to leaving Hibs in January 2019 by a mutual agreement, he had overseen his side finishing fourth-place in 2017/18.

Former Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley is also on the lookout for a new job, having had his contract terminated by the South Coast club back in January.

The 44-year-old lost his job at Fratton Park at the start of the year having failed to win a league game for over two months, leaving Pompey in 12th, while his overall managerial record of the club lies at 42 wins and 27 draws from 97 matches, equating to a 43.3% win percentage.

Cowley previously managed Huddersfield Town in the Championship for a total of 40 matches, winning 13 and drawing 11, consolidating the Terriers' place in the division during the 2019/20 season.

His three-year spell at Lincoln City will be remembered as his best managerial spell to date, having won two promotions from the National League (2016/17) and League Two (2018/19) by winning each division, on top of this, the Imps also won the EFL Trophy in 2018, while being the first side in over 100 years to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup outside of the Football League in the 2016/17 season.

Former Oxford United boss Karl Robinson is an outside to become Bradford's next manager.

Robinson is perhaps best known for his six-year spell as MK Dons manager between 2010 and 2016 where he earned them promotion to the Championship back in the 2014/15 season via a second-place finish.

Following his time at MK, the 41-year-old Liverpudlian took charge of Charlton Athletic between November 2016 and March 2018, but, departed from The Valley by mutual consent after winning just 27 of his 74 matches in charge.

Robinson was in charge of Oxford between March 2018 and February 2023, managing The U’s 274 times, winning 110 of these matches.

Barrow AFC manager Pete Wild has also entered the conversation, having impressed with the Bluebirds since his arrival at Holker Street in the summer of 2022.

Prior to joining the Bluebirds, Barrow had finished 21st and 22nd in League Two, with many having the club as favourites to be relegated in the current campaign, however, the Bluebirds have typically defied the odds and recorded a 9th-place finish last season and currently sit 14th in the table this season.

Before his time at Barrow, Wild had been the manager at Halifax Town in the National League for three years, between July 2019 and May 2022, winning 65 and drawing 28 of his 139 matches in charge, equating to a 47% win percentage, finishing fourth in his final season at The Shay.

Wild also had a decent spell at Oldham Athletic between March 2019 and May 2019, winning four and drawing two of his nine games in charge, a decent record for any Oldham manager post-Joe Royle.

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