Duff at ease with expectation in Bradford role

Michael Duff watched Tuesday's EFL Trophy win over Rotherham from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban [Shutterstock] Bradford City boss Michael Duff has said he "couldn't pass up" the chance to take over at the League One promotion chasers. The 48-year-old was appointed as successor to Graham Alexander on Tuesday on a deal to the end of the 2029-30 season. Duff was sacked by Wycombe in September and takes over a Bantams side who are second in the table. "There's an alignment from top to bottom and that is important but difficult to get at football clubs. It's in a good moment," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "I had a couple of other opportunities in a short space of time but you can't pass opportunities like this up. "You can jump at the first job because it is a job but I've been burnt a couple of times, there's no getting away from that, in the past couple of years." He added: "Graham said nothing but positive things. He said it is a no-nonsense football club and they are really, really good people to work for and from where I've been and what has gone on in the past few years that sounds good enough for me." Bradford City appoint Duff as new boss The former Northern Ireland international enjoyed success with Cheltenham and Barnsley in his first managerial roles but stints with Swansea, Huddersfield and the Chairboys have all been brief. His brother Shane had a short spell with Bradford as a defender in 2010-11 when they finished 18th in League Two and Duff said he had "seen the worst of the football club". Alexander, who Duff played alongside at Burnley, led them to promotion to League One in 2024-25 before a fourth-placed finish last season and left for Preston last month with the Bantams top of the league. "People talk about pressure but if you don't like that then don't do this job. The expectancy is the bit I like," Duff said. "You have a look in the last couple of years and you see the momentum and the energy between the top, the staff, the players and the supporters and there's an alignment of 'this is what we are', it is hard to get to that. "There's a lot of snobbery in football but run hard and win are the most important things and I think that is what Grezza has done really well." Duff 'not copying' what has gone before Duff watched his new side from the stands as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Rotherham in the Jersey Mike's Trophy on Tuesday as he served a one-match touchline ban from his Wycombe spell. He will lead the team from the dugout for the first time in Saturday's home game against Leyton Orient in the league. The Bantams, who are also in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, have made a terrific start to the season and Duff acknowledged that it was unusual to take over at a team so highly placed in the division. "I'm not expecting this to be easy," he said. "It won't go in a straight line. There will be ups and downs, there always is. "It's a new challenge for me, I've never taken over a football club at the top of the league, it doesn't happen very often. "I'm not Graham, so don't try and copy him but don't go too far from where things are at at the minute. It's a balance. He added: "There's an arrogance and an entitlement in football but there's more than one way to play. "Have we got the biggest budget? No, but what doesn't cost me is togetherness and team spirit and the ability to run until the lungs come out of your mouth. "They are the things that are already embedded so I need to harness that and try and move it on." All the latest Bradford City news