Preston North End are 4/5 to avoid relegation from the EFL Championship after appointing Graham Alexander as their new manager.
Alexander has returned to Deepdale with an “absolute desire and determination” to take the club back to the top division of English football.
The 54-year-old makes his return to Preston 14 years after ending his playing career with the Lilywhites, leaving Bradford City to take charge of the Championship club.
Former Lilywhites team-mate Chris Lucketti will join Alexander as his assistant.
Preston chairman Ian Penrose said Alexander’s ambition and deep affection for the club were key factors in his appointment after an “extensive” recruitment process.
Invaluable knowledge
“His lengthy playing career brings invaluable knowledge of the Championship, Premier League and International football,” Penrose said in a club statement.
“Combined with his in-depth managerial experience, most recently leading Bradford City to promotion and now top of League One, he was the standout candidate.
“In addition, what shone through in our meeting was Graham’s absolute desire and determination to return Preston to the top division of English football, driven by his deep affection for the club.”
New era for PNE
Penrose added: “This is undoubtedly the start of an exciting new era for PNE, one built on positivity, desire, togetherness, and belief.”
Alexander arrives at Preston with considerable managerial experience, having guided Fleetwood Town, Salford City and Bradford to promotion, while also taking Scunthorpe United into the League One play-offs.
In Scotland, he led Motherwell from the bottom of the Scottish Premiership to European qualification within 18 months.
His departure from Bradford comes despite the Bantams making an impressive start to life in League One this season.
They were top of the table when Preston made their approach, having secured promotion from League Two under Alexander during the 2024-25 campaign before reaching the play-offs last season.
For Alexander, however, the opportunity to return to the club where he spent a significant part of his playing career proved impossible to turn down.
Special feeling
“It’s a special feeling to be named manager of this football club,” Alexander told the club’s website.
“After speaking to Preston, I knew this was the place I wanted to be.
“I had an amazing time here as a player and it’s great to be back.”
Alexander spent eight years at Deepdale across two spells, making 400 appearances and scoring 64 goals.
He now takes charge of a Preston side looking to recover from a difficult start to the Championship campaign following the departure of Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month.
Alexander ambition
Preston had lost six of their opening seven league matches before parting company with the former Sheffield United and Leeds United manager.
Alexander’s first match in charge will be against Millwall at Deepdale after the international break – and on his 55th birthday.
The new Preston boss is determined to build on the success he has enjoyed elsewhere and believes ambition will be central to his return.
“At previous clubs, we’ve always improved league positions and created a team that people can appreciate and attach themselves to,” he said.
“I want to win, I want to be successful, and a big part of that is having ambitions.”
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