No timescale as Bantams sift through manager applications

Kevin McDonald took charge of his first training session in a caretaker capacity yesterday ahead of the weekend home clash with Swindon.

The club are sifting through a lengthy list of potential candidates and are not expected to rush into drawing up a short-list.

They are not thought to be working to a specific timeframe before making a decision on a permanent successor to Mark Hughes.

City hope the experienced McDonald stepping up in the short term will galvanise the dressing room to stabilise and improve results before a new man comes in to take over on a full-time basis.

Gillingham’s decision to axe Neil Harris yesterday may also muddy the waters with a rival job now on offer.

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Leam Richardson and Danny Cowley have been installed as early frontrunners for the City position according to the bookies. But they are often not a true indicator of how the club may be thinking within the four walls.

Gateshead’s Mike Williamson is another name being touted by the odds makers but the patient, passing style he likes to play is unlikely to sit well with a Valley Parade public who got on Hughes’ back at times for doing the same thing.

Fans have mentioned Neil Warnock and Chris Wilder, although it’s hard to imagine that either would be prepared to drop below Championship level.

Former Charlton and Bristol City manager Dean Holden is one understood to be interested as he plots a quick return to management.

Former Charlton boss Dean Holden is looking to get back into management (Image: PA)

Holden was appointed by Charlton last Christmas with the remit of keeping them in League One.

He lifted the Addicks from 19th to a comfortable 10th-placed finish – but was sacked by the club’s new owners at the end of August following a run of four defeats.

The 44-year-old is keen to get straight back in and is unlikely to be put off by dropping down a division if it was the right fit.

McDonald will carry out pre-match press duties this afternoon. He is expected to take himself out of the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game to focus on coaching his team-mates alongside Mark Trueman.

City will be missing Alex Pattison after his hamstring injury flared up again at Tranmere on Tuesday.

But Lewis Richards is close to a return from the groin strain that has kept him out for four games.

If he is not ready for tomorrow, the left back should be in contention for Tuesday’s trip to Grimsby in the Football League Trophy.