With the coronavirus temporarily placing the Sky Bet League Two season on halt, one thing that remains stable about Bradford City's current season is there manager Stuart McCall's job security; having just begun his third tenure in charge of the Bantams. McCall's side are currently battling for a play-off position in a season which could end in two ways- a late finish or being deemed null and void.
With McCall having fairly recently taking control of the West Yorkshire side, it got me thinking-where are the previous seven managers to hold the reigns at Valley Parade?
Gary Bowyer- with the Lancashire born boss having lost his job at Bradford back in February, Bowyer is yet to find his new temporary home. Bowyer had failed to win in his remaining seven games at the club before Rupp made the decision, but in his time at the club was nominated for October manager of the month. Bowyer ended his tenure with a disappointing 29.2% win ratio after losing five more games than he won.
David Hopkin- Bradford's reigning record signing after joining the club in 2000 for a fee of £2.5m (and then making just 11 appearances), the Scotsman spent six months at Valley Parade before resigning towards the end of the dire 2019/19 season, having won a woeful seven out of his 35 games in charge. In terms of stats, that is one win in every seven games, which certainly defines relegation form. His win ratio at the club was just 20%, which was even worse than Bowyer's and he became more and more disconnected from the fans by the end of his time before making the brave decision to leave the Bantams. Since departing the club, Hopkin has taken over Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton for the third time alongside ex-Bantam Luca Colville. Morton currently sit 7th in the Scottish Championship and appear to be comfortable from relegation.
Michael Collins- an absolutely bizarre appointment, Edin Rahic promoted Collins from the clubs under-18s coach to the clubs head coach alongside the ever-present Martin Drury and Greg Abbott as his assistants. Collins opened his managerial competitive campaign with an away victory against Shrewsbury Town, but was sacked by Rahic after just seven games in charge. Remarkably after his sacking, the 33 year old returned to playing football and signed for National League North side Alfreton Town, where he remains to this team having made just three appearances in his time there. Comically, his win ratio at the club was actually better than two proven managers in David Hopkin and Gary Bowyer with a 28.57% win ratio, but in time he only managed to victor over the Salops and Burton Albion in two 1-0 wins, Jack Payne getting both winners.
Simon Grayson- when Grayson was appointed in February 2018, he came with huge bags of expectation behind his name leaving City fans delighted with his arrival. However, his time at the club was just as disappointing as the likes of Hopkin and Bowyer, having just a woebegone 21.4% win ratio. Grayson was in charge for just 14 games at the club and won just three of them, including an excellent 3-1 victory over a high-flying Portsmouth side. He returned to former club Blackpool after his Bradford resignation, taking over Terry McPhillips on a two year contract at Bloomfield Road. Grayson was sacked by the club after seven months in charge and 38 games. He is currently unemployed, but is in the middle of hosting a charity match in Bedale.
Stuart McCall- well. The Bradford City legend was controversially sacked by Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp following a 2-1 defeat to Oldham Athletic after a run of six consecutive defeats. McCall was in charge of an excellent City squad who unfortunately were defeated by Millwall in the 2017 play-off final. His Bantams slowly dropped off unfortunately the season after, leading to the loss of his job. Six months on and McCall found a new job- at Scunthorpe United. At the Irons he achieved the January 2019 Manager of the Month award following four wins out of five in said month. However after that the Manager of the Month curse struck as he won just two of his remaining games at the club before being sacked in March alongside assistant Kenny Black. McCall would go on to have a job interview at Scottish giants Hearts, but was not offered the role before returning to West Yorkshire with his beloved Bradford City side.
Phil Parkinson- 'the special one' who managed City to a historic League Cup final, promotion and of course that unforgettable 4-2 victory over Premier League then-leaders Chelsea, departed the Bantams in June of 2016 after five years at the club to take charge of relegated Bolton Wanderers. Parkinson was in charge of just shy of 200 games at the club and held a win ratio of 34% and winning 66 of those 196 games for Bradford. Steve Parkin and Parkinson signed two year contracts at the club and lead the Trotters to an unbeaten first month in charge. In his first season in charge, Bolton secured promotion to the Championship finishing runners up behind Sheffield United. Whilst Parkinson's side went straight back down, he came out of the club as a hero, sticking by them for so long despite a lack of financial stability and security, before resigning in August of 2019. Parky is now in charge of League One side Sunderland in their challenge for promotion, but has had a mixed start to his career having won just 11 of his 30 games in charge at the Stadium of Light.
Peter Jackson- Bradford-born Jackson took charge of the club back all the way back in 2011 after making 336 appearances and acting as the club's youngest ever captain. With Colin Cooper as his assistant, Jackson accepted a one year managerial contract at the club but after a poor start at the club tendered his resignation and the Bantams board accepted. His win ratio at the club was just 21% and since has not taken charge of any other club, but has taken interviews regarding Huddersfield Town.
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