LAST autumn, a manager at a high-flying Yorkshire club left to join one struggling in the lower reaches of the division above - following his heart in the process.

For Rob Edwards, read Graham Alexander in the present.

Thankfully, the similarities did not extend to the way that Alexander conducted himself ahead of his move across the Pennines from Bradford City to Preston North End, effectively two positions ahead of them in the EFL standings.

By contrast, Edwards' reprehensible behaviour stuck in the craw of Middlesbrough supporters rather more before he jumped ship to ‘his’ club Wolves, who were three places above them in the pyramid last November.

MOVING ON: Graham Alexander (Image: Tony Johnson)

placeholder image — MOVING ON: Graham Alexander (Image: Tony Johnson)

Alexander’s switch to the club which pulls on his own heartstrings was done in a more edifying way at least and had a bit more grace about it.

And he wasn’t four months into a three-year contract which he signed after joining the Teessiders in the summer of 2025 either.

Edwards was seven months into a three-and-a-half year deal when Wolves’ owners sacked him in June. The pay-off will have softened the blow, for sure, but from a reputational perspective, the move did him few favours.

For Alexander, there are also dangers in following the heart as opposed to the head. Previous history has also shown, certainly in this county, that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

Former Wolves and Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards.

Michael Duff lasted less than six months at Swansea after leaving Barnsley in June 2023, fresh from taking them to a League One play-off final.

Further back, Garry Monk’s decision to quit Leeds United after just missing out on the Championship play-offs in 2016-17 season quickly backfired.

He promptly joined Middlesbrough - armed with parachute payments following relegation from the Premier League.

Despite talk from chairman Steve Gibson that Boro would ‘smash the Championship’ in 17-18, they did anything but. Monk was axed at Christmas.

There are also plenty of examples of managers who have joined Yorkshire clubs from elsewhere, only to discover that the grass isn’t always greener.

At Rotherham, think Matt Taylor and even Steve Evans, second time around. Danny Cowley and Ruben Selles’ tenures at Huddersfield Town and Hull City respectively are other cases in point.

But back to Bradford. The club's progress over the past couple of seasons suggests that another uplifting chapter will be written at Valley Parade over the next few years. A club which is equal in size to Preston with arguably more potential.

There was trust and plenty of mutual respect behind the scenes as well. Should City have experienced a bump in the road under Alexander, you sense that those in the corridors of power would have had his back.

As disappointing as recent developments will have been for everyone connected with City, the vacant post will be a coveted one and the standards of candidates will be high. It will not just be the ‘usual suspects’.

Could Bradford and Preston even swap places at the end of the season? Stranger things have happened..