Next Bradford Manager Odds: Michael Flynn and Grant McCann early contenders to replace Derek Adams

Bradford City have parted ways with Derek Adams following a return of just nine wins from 37 games.

Appointed in the summer after he'd led Morecambe to a superb promotion into League One, Adams arrived at the Bantams looking to repeat the feat at Valley Parade.

Adams started brightly with 10 points from four games but a subsequent return of just six wins from 27 league matches has resulted in 11th-placed Bradford pulling the trigger on the Scot, who has instantly emerged as the favourite for the Aberdeen job.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, Bradford’s chief executive officer Ryan Sparks, said: 

“On behalf of the board, it is with deep regret that we have come to the decision to part company with Derek Adams. 

“A sustained period of consideration has led to this decision and it is felt that, with all things taken into account, the club must move in a different direction with regards to the role of first-team manager.

“We would like to thank Derek for his efforts while at Valley Parade, and wish him the very best for the future.”

Since long-serving boss Phil Parkinson left (2011-2016) Bradford have been overseen by a whole host of managers: Stuart McCall, Simon Grayson, Michael Collins, David Hopkin, Gary Bowyer, McCall (again), Mark Trueman/Conor Sellars, and now Adams, whose departure means that the club are now searching for their ninth permanent boss in just over five years.

The Bantams have revealed that one of those aforementioned managers, Trueman, has been placed in caretaker charge of the first-team for Saturday’s game against Oldham Athletic. 

Trueman previously spent 29 matches in the dugout alongside joint-manager Conor Sellars, a post the duo held from December 2020 through to Adams’ appointment in the summer (including a spell as caretakers).

Trueman, who has since been working as an assistant under Adams, is one of the early contenders in the betting (6/1) but given that he’s already had a spell as manager, Bradford are likely to look for an external appointment, although you can’t rule out a run through to the end of the season.

Bradford were many people’s pick to go up this season, but a thoroughly underwhelming run of form means they are down in 11th, however they still have 15 matches left to play as the club bid to spark a push for the play-offs - they are currently eight points off Newport in 7th.

There will be many out-of-work managers who will back themselves to turn the club’s fortunes around and secure that top-7 finish this term.

Early contenders in the betting include Grant McCann and former Bantams player Michael Flynn.

Flynn looks a great price at 10/1 given both his history at the club and his current availability. 

The 41-year-old, who sported the Bradford shirt between 2009 and 2012, led former club Newport to two League Two play-off finals. He left in October and has since been linked with multiple posts across the whole of the EFL, including fellow League Two side Walsall, a job he’s currently the odds-on favourite for.

McCann may have missed out on the Sunderland job to Alex Neil, but the Northern Irishman once again finds himself in the mix for a vacancy as he seeks a rapid return to the dugout following his harsh sacking at Hull a couple of weeks ago.

McCann led the Tigers to the League One title last season but was dismissed earlier in 2022 after the Championship club was taken over. At the time of his departure he’d just recorded back-to-back wins over the promotion-chasing duo of Bournemouth and Blackburn.

The 41-year-old has also had spells in charge of Peterborough and Doncaster, taking the latter to 6th in League One.

Experienced heads Steve Evans, Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock are each unemployed right now, as are Nigel Adkins and Keith Curle, whereas three-time Bradford boss and current Sheffield United assistant, Stuart McCall, can never completely be ruled out…

Could Lee Johnson, who was recently sacked by Sunderland when they were 3rd in League One, be lured down into League Two?

Elsewhere, Jonathan Woodgate, Robbie Fowler, and Richie Wellens feature in the betting at this early stage, while there are a number of non-league managers enjoying cracking seasons, from Luke Garrard at Boreham Wood - who are 5th in the National League and fresh from booting out Bournemouth in the FA Cup - to Pete Wild at Halifax and Bromley’s Andy Woodman (3rd and 4th in the National League).

Full odds below...