Next Bradford City Manager Odds: Danny Cowley favourite to replace Mark Hughes

Bradford City appear to be in no rush as they continue to search for their ninth manager since 2018 following the sacking of Mark Hughes a month ago.

Hughes, who lasted just under 20 months, was the club's longest-serving manager since Stuart McCall's second spell between 2016 and 2018, but despite leading The Bantams into the League Two play-offs last season, he ultimately paid the price for a poor start to the current campaign.

Below, we've taken an updated look at the betting market following the news that former frontrunner Kevin McDonald has decided to focus on playing, with Mark Trueman taking over as caretaker while the managerial search continues.

Danny Cowley: 1/2

Danny and his brother Nicky appear to be in-demand at the moment with the managerial double-act linked with a plethora of posts across the EFL, including the Bradford job, for which they are now the odds-on frontrunners to replace Mark Hughes; having previously been as long as 20/1.

The duo have been absent on the touchline since the start of the year when they left Portsmouth, meaning they will no doubt be eager to return.

They were unable to deliver promotion to a club desperately seeking a way out of League One, finishing 8th and 10th, while they were nine points adrift of the play-offs at the time of their departure in early January.

However, the Cowleys did of course memorably propel Lincoln City from non-league to League One - winning League Two along the way - before going on to save Huddersfield from the drop out of the Championship.

Danny Cowley, who is also being linked with a return to the managerless Imps, has spoken of his determination to find the right club with a clear vision of where they want to go.

"Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City are both huge clubs, fantastic football clubs which mean so much to so many people," he said on Sky Sports News last week.

"For Nicky and I, what a wonderful opportunity to be able to work at clubs which mean so much to so many people."

Dean Holden: 2/1

Previously way out in the betting at 33/1, former Charlton boss Dean Holden has had his odds cut to just 2/1 with Bet Victor.

Holden became the first 2023/24 EFL manager to lose his job after the trigger-happy League One side opted to make an early change in last August after a slow start.

The decision seemed a tad harsh on Holden who had led the club from 19th to 10th last season following his appointment in December.

Holden, a former Bristol City manager, has reportedly held talks with Bristol Rovers following the exit of Joey Barton.

Leam Richardson: 8/1

It's approaching a year since Leam Richardson surprisingly lost his job at Wigan.

After guiding the club through the turmoil of administration and saving them from relegation to League Two, Paul Cook's former assistant propelled the Latics to the League One title in 2021/22. He was named the division's Manager of the Season and would go on to agree a new three-year contract in October of last year.

Two weeks later he was sacked and has yet to return from the Job Centre.

The 43-year-old has, however, been linked with his fair share of jobs throughout the last year and remains in the mix for the Bradford job at 8/1, having initially been the 4/6 frontrunner following the sacking of Mark Hughes.

Like the Cowleys, Richardson is also being linked with Lincoln, emerging as the new frontrunner for the post.

Graham Alexander: 8/1

With Bradford seeking a way out of League Two, they could turn to Graham Alexander, who previously won promotion from the fourth tier with Fleetwood.

Alexander would go on to manage the likes of Scunthorpe, Salford, and Motherwell while he won a League Two Manager of the Month award as recently as August after he led MK Dons to the summit of the table, only to then suffer the sack a couple of weeks ago.

It would be a very quick turnaround for Alexander if he was to take up another job so soon after leaving MK Dons, but he's been backed into 8/1 over the last couple of days.

Karl Robinson: 25/1

Karl Robinson is understood to be interested in returning to management.

Robinson has buckets of EFL experience from spells at MK Dons, Charlton, and Oxford, while he was last seen fleetingly in the Premier League as an assistant manager to Sam Allardyce at the backend of last season.

Still only 43, Robinson previously won promotion into the Championship with MK Dons and twice took Oxford into the League One play-offs.

Kevin McDonald: 33/1

In the aftermath of Mark Hughes' departure, it was Kevin McDonald who stepped up to the plate as caretaker.

He won his first three matches in charge against Swindon, Grimsby, and AFC Wimbledon. He then oversaw a draw against Wrexham, which was followed by defeats to MK Dons and Sutton United, before he bowed out with a 3-0 win over Man City's U21s.

McDonald, who was previously the 4/5 favourite, is now way out at 33/1 after he opted to return to full-time playing duties.

Mark Trueman has subsequently taken up the role as caretaker manager for the club's FA Cup first round clash at home to Wycombe this weekend.

Browse the full next Bradford Manager odds below.