Cowley: Bradford opportunity was 'not quite right'

Danny Cowley admits he pulled out of the running for the Bradford job earlier this month.

The former Portsmouth, Huddersfield and Lincoln boss, 45, was a hot favourite with bookmakers to take charge at Valley Parade following Mark Hughes' October sacking.

City eventually appointed Graham Alexander instead, though Cowley has now confirmed to LiveScore that he was in conversation with the Bantams before withdrawing his interest.

Speaking in glowing terms about the Yorkshire outfit, he said: "We spoke with Bradford. I think Bradford City is a brilliant club, incredibly well-supported.

"When you speak to a club, I think you're trying to understand where they are today and where they want to go. 

"Then once you know the starting point and the destination, you can then decide whether or not you've got the skill set to put those stepping stones in place.

"These decisions are huge not just for your family but also for the football club. So, you have to make sure you have the right information to make a decision for the benefit of everyone.

"We just felt it wasn't quite right at the time."

Moving 'not an issue'

Cowley, who has been out of work since leaving Fratton Park in January, was widely reported to have turned the Bantams down due to family reasons.

However, the Essex-based tactician insists the prospect of uprooting has never put him off a professional opportunity.

Cowley explained: "For us, we've always travelled in terms of football. We love the game, so location is not an issue for us.

"My daughter is only 14 but she's already had six schools. We decided as a family that we would move with the jobs and that hasn't scared us in the past.

"We just didn't think Bradford was the right opportunity in this moment."

While Cowley opted against the move to Yorkshire, he believes the Bradford hierarchy have made a smart choice with Preston legend Alexander.

He added: "It's great that they've now hired Graham Alexander. I think it's a really shrewd appointment. 

"I was at his second game on Saturday [a 4-2 defeat to Notts County] and though they had a tough start, he got a real response from his players in the second half, which gives him something to build on.

"They have some really good people behind the scenes who have the club's best interests at heart and I wish Graham and Bradford nothing but success moving forward."

Finding a good fit

Having worked in the second and third tier of English football in his two most recent jobs, Cowley is itching to get back in the dugout.

However, he and his brother Nicky — who has been his assistant in all of his previous managerial roles — are keen to make their next choice the right one.

On the future, Cowley said: "I think it's more about the wider project now.

"Me and Nicky have been lucky enough to manage in eight of the top nine divisions — and we still have ambitions of working in the last one, the Premier League!

"For us, it's just trying to work with good people, that's where we've had success in the past. 

"We just want to find owners and staff who want to work intelligently and go in somewhere we think we can add value.

"Our stock was incredibly high when we left Lincoln in 2019 but we've learnt so much at Huddersfield and Portsmouth since, two huge clubs with lofty ambitions.

"They've left us feeling really well-equipped for that next challenge whenever it comes."