BANTAMS SUPPORTERS TRUST

On the 6 th October Bradford City announced Michael Duff as the new First Team Manager. Duff, 48, in his playing career as a defender and a former Northern Ireland International, became a firm favourite amongst supporters at Cheltenham Town, helping them get promoted twice, once during the 1997 season, and then in 1999 when he scored the goal that got them promoted into the Football League. He later contributed to the club’s promotion to the third tier through the play-offs in 2002. In 2004, he joined Burnley from Cheltenham for a reported £30,000, and in 2009 helped them win promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs, and since helped them win promotion back into the Premier League two other times, in 2014 and 2016 respectively. In Duff’s managerial career (2017-18) he worked within Burnley’s coaching structure. In 2018 he came back to Cheltenham, and in 2021 Led Cheltenham to the League Two title. In 2022 he joined Barnsley and in the following year he took them to the League One Play-Off Final. In that year, 2023, he had a spell as Head Coach of Swansea City and in 2024 joined Huddersfield Town. In 2025 he then managed Wycombe Wanderers. So far in his managerial career, Duff has taken charge of 376 games, winning 160 and drawing 96. Whilst he has had managerial successes he has faced difficulties at Clubs facing different expectations. Michael Duff’s Management Style is one where his approach is based strongly on unity, work ethic, adaptability, and collective responsibility. His teams have been associated with organised pressing and an ability to build play from the back. He has also shown a willingness to adjust his tactical approach according to the strengths of his players. Another important part of his philosophy is creating a strong connection between players, staff, and supporters. These qualities are very much in the mould of two of our best managers in the modern era, Phil Parkinson and Graham Alexander and therefore it is understandable the Club’s senior figures see that he can fit into their Club vision. We are aware that there will be a lot of expectation from within the Club and amongst supporters as there is a strong ambition of competing higher in the English football structure. We believe that a manager has to have the time and the resources to develop and bring about successes. The conditions are ripe for Duff to succeed with all the ambition and expectation to reach the Championship. It is a tough pressure, but one that Michael Duff will be relishing. The Trust gives Duff our backing and we hope that all supporters will give him time to get the players’ backing. We are only too aware that the pressure for success has created culture of a managerial merry-go-round where careers of managers at clubs are often cut short. We can only hope that Michael Duff’s success at Bradford City is the exception to this. The season’s campaign is still long and we are sure there will still be highs and lows. We are also confident that if the spirit is strong and determined throughout the team we are sure supporters will get behind him.

Bantams Supporters Trust have been approached by the Club’s stadium concourse catering company Tiffin to try to arrange an open meeting in the next couple of months to discuss the foods and beverages provided in the concourse outlets. This would give both parties the chance to discuss what it is that supporters would like to see provided at games and Tiffin the chance to discuss what can and cannot be provided in the stadium. The City Vaults has been suggested as a venue and probably a mid week evening would be the best time for all involved. To get an indication of interest in attending, please contact Helen Jeffery by emailing hello@bantamstrust.co.uk . You do not have to be a member of the Trust to attend. Anyone not able to attend but wanting to put forward any ideas, please Email us at hello@bantamstrust.co.uk . We can then collate any information to take to the meeting. We thank you for your support

After much speculation surrounding the possibility that he was to leave for Preston North End, and then confirmation that the Club had reluctantly let him talk to the Club on the 24 th September, we reflect with sadness that it has finally been confirmed on Monday 28 th that Graham Alexander has now left the Club. He had been with us for almost 3 years from November 2023 when he picked up the struggling team, that by the end of that campaign, narrowly missed promotion by just one point of reaching the Play-Offs. The following season, his first full season brought us automatic promotion in one of the most dramatic end of last matches of the season at Valley Parade in the Club’s history. There were scenes of unbridled joy that afternoon that seemed like all the difficult years of lack of success and ambition had evaporated into the air. During that season the team managed to win 10 consecutive home wins. In our new League one season Graham Alexander led his team into the playoffs but was unsuccessful in reaching the dizzy heights of the Championship. Graham Alexander in his time as manager brought in a raft of new players and was able bring the team together. He brought a confidence to the team and with it a team that could fight for points and beat teams, and the success on the pitch brought fans back and won many new ones. Fans could sing with pride. But we must not dwell on what we have lost. A manager’s career is very short these days at any one club, and we must look ahead and wish success to Graham Alexander, one of the revered amongst the Club’s support base and his assistant manager, Chris Lucketti at Preston North End. In the interim period while we wait for a new manager we must give our support to Mark Trueman and Colin Doyle. With all the success we have had in the time Graham Alexander has been with us, he leaves us in a stronger position as a club financially and a much more exciting prospect as a club to come to as a manager. With a big support base, all the ingredients are there for much more successes at Bradford City. We are only at the beginning of October, so we are sure to have a few bumps on the journey.