When Graham Alexander arrived as Bradford City manager in October 2023, the club were at a crossroads.

Despite an illustrious history that saw them feature in the Premier League between 1999 and 2001 and spend much of their existence in the top three tiers of English football, the Bantams were now facing up to their fifth successive season in League Two.

Signs of progress under former boss Mark Hughes, which culminated in a play-off spot in 2022-23, had slowly dissipated. And with Bradford languishing in 18th following a tricky start to the campaign, the Man United legend was swiftly sacked.

Alexander himself had a point to prove, fresh from being dismissed by MK Dons after just 16 games.

Yet, over the following 18 months, Alexander - a highly-respected Football League boss with promotions at Fleetwood and Salford on his c.v. - has awoken a sleeping giant and, despite a dramatic 5-4 defeat at Swindon last week, Bradford are potentially four games from ending their six-year exile from League One.

They sit second heading into the Easter Weekend, three points adrift of leaders Port Vale in what has been one of the tensest League Two promotion battles in years. The Bantams are just one point clear of fourth-placed Doncaster, while Notts County, who Bradford host today, are five points behind in sixth.

Graham Alexander has led Bradford to second in League Two heading into the final four games

The battle for automatic promotion is tight, but Bradford are closing in on a League One return

Alexander replaced Mark Hughes as boss in October 2023 with Bradford down in 18th place

‘When I arrived, I hadn’t been at MK (Dons) for long so I had so much energy and drive to manage a successful team,’ Alexander tells Mail Sport. ‘I had been at Bradford as an opposing player and manager in the past so I knew what the potential could be, but I also knew it would be a tough challenge.

'And it has been a challenge so far, but a really rewarding one. I’m sure there'll be more twists along the way, but when we planned for this season we would have taken second at this stage without a shadow of doubt.’

It’s not all been plain sailing for Alexander though. Following a 3-0 defeat by Notts County on December 21, the Bantams were 12th and there were murmurings of discontent.

However, a club record run of 10 home wins in a row parachuted Bradford firmly into the automatic promotion picture.

Bradford’s incredible form coincided with the return to fitness of several key players. Their absences had disrupted plans made in pre-season, while it also allowed Alexander to revert to his favoured three-at-the-back formation.

‘Setting a new club record was a brilliant achievement,’ Alexander adds. ‘That's something special for a club as old as Bradford and it put us in a really good position.’

The accolade is even more impressive given Valley Parade, despite consistently being home to the largest crowds in the division, hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for Bradford.

There were just nine home wins each in 2022-23 and 2023-24, but this time around Alexander has overseen 16 victories in 21 - and an incredible 23,381 were present for a 4-1 triumph against Colchester last month, a record for a fourth tier game at the ground.

Alexander oversaw a club record run of 10 home wins in a row between December and March

Valley Parade has become a fortress for Bradford after their previous indifferent home form 

23,381 were at their clash vs Colchester in March, a record for a fourth tier game at the ground

The average attendance at Valley Parade has only increased slightly from 17,088 to 17,444, but with two home games to go that will only rise.

The club deserve credit for selective and competitive pricing which has targeted particular fixtures, such as offering £5 tickets for the Colchester clash, enabling the whole town to get involved, while affordable season tickets include a junior (Under 11) one being available for just £35.

Elsewhere, a strong connection has been built with the fanbase through social media and community engagement and a stunning tifo display was arranged ahead of Bradford’s 2-0 victory against Crewe this month. The display used more than 20,000 claret and amber-coloured cards along with 400 flags to create a ‘Claret and Amber Fortress’.

‘The backing we get is unrivalled at this level and possibly even the level above,’ explains Alexander, who is engaging and warm company throughout our conversation.

‘We've turned Valley Parade into a place of strength rather than a place of concern, because the record before wasn't particularly strong and it's a joy to play in front of those fans.’

Alexander has used a loyal but demanding crowd as a positive, pointing to the incredible numbers as a way to attract new signings, while also altering his players' mindsets to urge them to relish the opportunities rather than fear the weight of expectation.

What has also been notable is Bradford’s season wasn’t derailed by the serious knee injury suffered by talismanic striker Andy Cook on New Year’s Day.

Cook has been a key figure for the Bantams since joining in 2021, netting 50 goals across the previous two seasons before adding 15 by the time injury curtailed this campaign. The 34-year-old, who remains their top scorer in 2024-25, has even been dubbed the ‘League Two Haaland’ in some quarters.

A stunning tifo display was arranged ahead of Bradford’s 2-0 victory against Crewe this month

Bradford suffered the blow of talismanic striker Andy Cook picking up a serious knee injury

Cook has been a key figure for the Bantams since joining in 2021, netting 50 goals across the previous two seasons before adding 15 by the time injury curtailed this campaign

‘We finished the calendar year quite well with Cooky in the team,’ says Alexander, who became just the second outfield player to make 1,000 professional appearances during his own career. 

‘Unfortunately he got injured but we've always been trying to build a squad that is stronger than one individual.

‘I wouldn't say we've been better because we've missed Cooky, it's just we've had real good strength in depth and the lads have picked up the baton.'

That squad depth was always part of the plan. Last summer, the 53 year old was focused on creating a group that blended youth and experience.

Proven promotion winners Antoni Sarcevic, Neil Byrne, Aden Baldwin and Paul Huntingdon were among the arrivals and their qualities have been complemented by youthful additions such as Tyreik Wright and loanees Tayo Adaramola, Michael Mellon and Branden Khela throughout the campaign.

'Some clubs have a certain strategy of recruitment,' Alexander explains. 'But I remember from my own playing days, if I was a young player, having those older heads around me for the experience was great. 

'And when I was one of the older heads, it was great to have the young players to buzz off their energy.

‘I've always tried to create a squad with a mix of players and we identified lads who had been promoted recently. They are important to navigate those choppy waters that you find in a league season and can keep people calm when needed.'

Nevertheless, Bradford's season wasn't derailed and their form then remarkably improved 

Last summer, Alexander tried to create a group that blended youth and experience and he targeted promotion winners, like Antoni Sarcevic, who went up with Stockport in 2023-24

Meanwhile, Alexander’s initial impact in 2023-24 had been mixed, but a run of six wins in Bradford’s last seven games parachuted them from 17th to ninth, just a point off the play-offs.

That momentum generated was built upon and a year later, Alexander admits it was a key moment in his tenure.

He says: ‘I did start looking at this season before that run. We drew a line in the sand under what was a really difficult period for us.

‘The strong finish gave everyone optimism for the summer and the new season. We had a long summer because we weren't involved in the play-offs and then a tough pre-season.'

There were signs within that end of season run of the solid defensive structure that has characterised Bradford’s form this time around.

Having conceded 39 goals in 42 games, the Bantams have the second tightest defence in the division and while keeper Sam Walker has kept 15 clean sheets, it has been a team effort. At the other end, Bradford have scored 58 times, although that only places them eighth in the division's highest scorers - a record impacted by a seemingly unfortunate continuous spate of injuries to attacking players.

A solid structure has been replicated off the pitch thanks to CEO Ryan Sparks, who became the youngest in the EFL when he was appointed aged 29 in 2018.

The arrival of David Sharpe, previously of Wigan and Mansfield, as head of football operations last April only boosted the backing for Alexander.

The momentum Bradford built up at the end of last season has been built upon this season

Alexander put his players through a tough pre-season to ensure they were in the right shape

'I built a really strong relationship with Ryan,' explains Alexander, who was nominated for League Two Manager of the Season yesterday. 'But he has a lot on his plate managing the whole club. He wanted someone to be the link between me and him and focus solely on football.

‘They've both been a really good support for me and there's a real connection between us which is great for me as the manager.’

Now, it’s crunch time for Bradford. Games against Notts County (6th), Chesterfield (9th), Doncaster (4th) and Fleetwood (13th) stand in the way of a first promotion in 12 years.

There’s no doubt Alexander, who boasts an impressive 44 wins from 87 games as Bradford boss, has transformed the club and got fans believing again. But, as he admits, it won’t mean anything if the next few weeks don’t go as hoped.

‘Things have been really strong so far,’ he says. ‘But there has to be a tangible success at the end of it for it to count. We know that's winning promotion out of this division. That's when we can reflect on something positive.

‘It's important we've made improvements and the rapport between the players and the fans is really special.

‘But we need to have the ultimate success at the end to validate all the work that everyone has put in. So we've just got to focus on getting a tough job done.’

CEO Ryan Sparks (above) has helped to oversee a solid structure and he has backed Alexander

Fergie does it again 

No one had really given Peterborough a chance. After all, it has been a difficult season for Darren Ferguson’s side who are 16th in League One - and not yet safe from relegation - having lost a whole host of key players last summer.

The talismanic Kwame Poku has also spent much of the campaign injured so a Vertu Motors final against rampant League One champions Birmingham, who have the division tied up with six games still to play, was going to be a tough ask.

The Blues’ celebrity backer Tom Brady had even flown in for the occasion and was one of more than 40,000 fans in attendance at Wembley.

But Ferguson just has a knack of winning these big games and following a brilliant performance with two great goals, Peterborough caused a shock to win the tournament for a joint-record third time and the second year in a row.

The fact they did it with three homegrown youngsters in the starting XI - Harley Mills, James Dornelly and Ricky-Jade Jones - plus Emmanuel Fernandez, who joined the club aged 19 without a professional appearance to his name, just adds to the triumph and Ferguson deserves enormous credit for pulling off the spectacular again.

‘It totally epitomises what Peterborough are about,’ Ferguson said in his post-match press conference when reflecting on the young talents at the club. ‘We played 21 academy graduates this season in the tournament alone and that speaks volume.’

Peterborough shocked Birmingham City to win the Vertu Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday

Darren Ferguson deserves huge credit after winning the trophy for a third time with Posh

Tranmere secure safety in style 

There's not been much to shout about for Tranmere in recent years and, at 3-0 down after 78 minutes to Accrington Stanley on Saturday, there would've been some worries about being only six points clear of the relegation zone with four games to play.

However, one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season then ensued as two goals from Omari Patrick - including one in the 11th minute of added time - and another from Kristian Dennis rescued a point.

But what was so intriguing was the fact that each strike was a genuine goal of the season contender, with Patrick starting the resurgence with a stunning 30-yard free kick.

Dennis’ effort wasn’t too bad either, as a shot with his weaker left-foot from 25 yards flew past the helpless Michael Kelly.

Patrick then added the cherry on top as he curled one in the top corner with the last kick of the game from outside the box.

The scenes in front of the uncovered away end at the Wham Stadium were some of the best you’ll see, and now with a seven-point gap to the bottom two, that was some way for Tranmere to effectively secure safety.