Graham Alexander has been appointed manager of Preston North End, Millwall's next Championship opponents, after a £500,000 fee was agreed with Bradford City. The 54-year-old former Preston defender returns to Deepdale for his first permanent job in the second tier, tasked with fixing a defence that has conceded 15 league goals this season. Millwall, currently 11th with 11 points from eight games, travel to face Alexander's new side on October 10.
Alexander made over 350 appearances for Preston across two spells as a player and was part of a side renowned for its defensive solidity nearly two decades ago. His immediate challenge is starkly different. Preston have kept just three clean sheets in 2026 and none since early February, a run that contributed to the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom. The club lost six of their opening seven league matches this season, leaving them second-from-bottom before a recent 2-2 draw with QPR under caretaker Jason Euell.
In contrast, Alexander leaves a Bradford City side he led to five wins from seven outings this term, with a defence that conceded only four league goals. His contract at Valley Parade had two years remaining, and the compensation fee is the largest Bradford have ever received for a manager. "I'm only interested in football," Alexander once said, a focus he will need as he steps into a high-pressure role at a club where fan confidence needs restoring.
Millwall's Deepdale test
The managerial change at Deepdale directly impacts Millwall's upcoming schedule. Neil Harris's side will be the first visitors to face Alexander's Preston, a fixture that now carries added intrigue. Millwall's form has been mixed, with their last five results showing one win, two draws and two defeats. They come into the game on the back of a 2-2 home draw with West Ham on September 19, where goals from Caleb Taylor and Camiel Neghli secured a point.
Preston sit 23rd in the Championship with four points from eight games, seven points behind Millwall. Alexander's introductory run of games also includes Birmingham City and Wrexham, but the spotlight will first fall on the Millwall match. For Lions fans tracking the standings, the game is a chance to widen that seven-point gap and build momentum.
Alexander inherits a squad with clear defensive issues but also a top-class training facility. He will not need long to diagnose the problems, having built a reputation for organisation at Bradford. The club moved quickly, requesting permission to speak to him on Wednesday afternoon before securing an agreement the same day. Bradford, now seeking a successor, are reportedly interested in Paul Heckingbottom but are not expected to make an appointment until after their weekend trip to Reading.
Millwall's preparation for the Deepdale trip will be informed by Preston's vulnerabilities. Lyndon Dykes, the Lions' top scorer with four goals this season, will look to exploit a shaky back line. The full fixtures list shows this as a key October test in a challenging period. Graham Alexander's homecoming adds a compelling new layer to a Championship rivalry, with his first task being to stop Millwall on October 10.
Read the full report at bbc.co.uk
