Fans share their thoughts on next Bradford City manager

The Welshman and assistant Glyn Hodges were dismissed after 587 days in charge on Wednesday night.

Mark Hughes (Image: Newsquest)The Bantams made the decision following Tuesday night’s defeat at Tranmere.

It was Hughes’ 70th league game in charge - winning 28, with 23 draws and 19 losses.

Mark Hughes. Feel a bit sad. He made us believe in ourselves as a club again. But we seemed to play with the handbrake half on. Particularly at home.
Next decision is huge for CEO and owner. Another failure and the focus will surely shift from the dugout. #bcafc

— David Pendleton (@davidpendleton0) October 5, 2023

Humayun Islam, founder of the Bangla Bantams fans' group, feels the time was right for the decision to be made.

"It was amazing to have him but unfortunately the results took a turn for the worst," he said.

"I think it was about time to move on. I went to the game on Saturday (against Walsall) and it was a difficult watch.

"It just seemed like the connection was no longer there with him and the players.

"He had lost the dressing room, the players were not performing for him."

Need someone to ignite the crowd and make us an asset by playing good football- for me Williamson Richardson or Cotterill - worry about Wild’s and Cowley’s style #bcafc

— Darren Hargreaves (@DazandAnge) October 5, 2023

Long-time Valley Parade season ticket holder Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, wanted Hughes to be given more time.

He said: "I was disappointed to hear the news of Mark Hughes’ sacking.

"I think it was a premature decision, and such a panic response to disappointing results is usually a mistake. It is not a decision I would have made."

Williamson for me. Hopefully he will be able to pick up some good non-league talent and turn them into gold.#bcafc

— TheHughesEra (@TheHughesEra) October 5, 2023

Former Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley is the bookies' favourite to replace Hughes.

Leam Richardson, David Artell, and Mike Williamson are the other contenders said to be in the running, along with caretaker manager Kevin McDonald.

The Cowley brothers for me #bcafc

— Karl Mandreit (@KMandreit) October 5, 2023

Huge fan Keith Wildman, who runs The Record Café in the city centre, tweeted: "The last five or six years of supporting #bcafc feels like getting to a certain point in a computer game and dying no matter what decision you make.

The last 5 or 6 years of supporting #bcafc feels like getting to a certain point in a computer game and dying no matter what decision you make. Then you realise the game is bugged and it’s impossible to complete.

— Keith Wildman (@KeithWildman) October 3, 2023

"Then you realise the game is bugged and it’s impossible to complete."

Interested to hear who fellow #bcafc fans would like in next.

Pete Wild is the ideal candidate for me: hungry, over-achieved with Barrow, knows the region, teams play good football. Has to be in our thinking.

— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) October 5, 2023

"We now need to have a proper think and not be too drastic before we appoint the next manager," added Mr Islam.

Mr Davies said: "Chopping and changing managers all the time - as Bradford City has been doing for some time now - is not a template for success. Quite the reverse.

"I really hope that Bradford City take care to choose the right person to replace Mark Hughes, and then stick with them even when things are not going well. That’s is the only possible route to long-term success."