Five Potential Managers Bradford City Could Target….

Bradford City’s recent decision to part ways with manager Mark Hughes, due to a lackluster start to their League Two season, has set them on the hunt for a new leader. In light of this, we explore five potential candidates who could step into the managerial role at Valley Parade.

Mark Hughes, who had previously managed clubs like Manchester City, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, and the Welsh national team, took charge of Bradford in February 2022.

He led the team to the playoffs last season but suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the two-legged semi-final against Carlisle United. Despite high expectations for this season, a 2-1 loss to Tranmere Rovers left Bradford in 18th place, prompting the club’s decision to make a change.

Despite their challenging start, Bradford City is only six points behind the seventh-placed Mansfield Town in a tightly contested division. Therefore, there is still ample opportunity for a new manager to rejuvenate their campaign. With that in mind, let’s explore the potential candidates for Bradford’s managerial role.

1. Danny Cowley: Danny Cowley, alongside his brother Nicky, boasts a strong track record at this level. Their achievements include guiding Lincoln City to the National League title in 2017, winning the EFL Trophy in 2018, and capturing the League Two title in 2019. Their success at Lincoln led them to Huddersfield Town in the Championship, where they succeeded in keeping the club in the division but eventually departed. They took over at Portsmouth in March 2021, although their tenure ended in January this year.
2. Scott Brown: Former Scotland international Scott Brown was relieved of his duties at Fleetwood Town in League One after a disappointing start to the season. However, his previous achievements included guiding Fleetwood to the FA Cup fifth round and a respectable mid-table finish last season. Brown has expressed his desire to bring his experience to his next role and has been linked to several opportunities in England and Scotland.
3. David Artell: David Artell, who left Crewe Alexandra in April the previous year, has been linked to various managerial positions, including Cheltenham Town. Artell enjoyed success at Crewe, earning promotion from League Two in 2020. Despite a 12th-place finish in their debut League One season, Artell couldn’t sustain the momentum and left the club when they were relegated back to the fourth tier.
4. Dean Brennan: Dean Brennan, currently managing Barnet, has been on the radar for an EFL managerial role. He took over at Barnet in 2021 and has overseen a significant turnaround in the club’s fortunes, transforming them from relegation candidates in the National League to promotion contenders. This season, Barnet has started strongly and is currently in second place in the league.
5. Damien Duff: Former Republic of Ireland and Chelsea star Damien Duff entered management in 2021 with Irish club Shelbourne. His straightforward approach and a run to the FAI Cup final last season have earned him recognition. While Duff is likely to attract interest from English clubs in the near future, it remains to be seen if he would consider a move to a League Two club.