Underrated Simon Grayson Is The Man To Lead Bradford City To Promotion

Underrated Simon Grayson Is The Man To Lead Bradford City To Promotion
15:06, 11 Feb 2018

With four promotions to the Championship on his CV, there is an argument to suggest that Simon Grayson is one of the most underrated English managers outside of the Premier League.

The 48-year-old Yorkshireman has been appointed as the new boss of League One outfit Bradford City and tasked with halting a slump which cost Stuart McCall his job last weekend.

A 2-1 defeat at Oldham marked a sixth successive loss and prompted the dismissal of club legend McCall, who served the Bantams with distinction during two spells as a player and two as manager.

McCall’s removal did not sit well with some Bradford fans, not least because of his legendary status but largely because the team remain in the play-off places.

Even after yesterday’s 2-2 draw at home to bottom side Bury, Bradford lie sixth and well placed to secure a play-off berth for the third season running.

Into McCall’s place has strode Grayson, a man who has guided four clubs out of English football’s third tier and into the Championship in recent times.

The promotions achieved with Blackpool, Leeds United, Huddersfield and Preston underline his managerial acumen that Bradford hope will see their club added to that impressive list.

Grayson, a phlegmatic Yorkshireman who grew up in the north of the county supporting Leeds, began his professional playing career at Elland Road.

He signed for Leeds as a 14-year-old on the same day as Gary Speed but, while the late Wales star went on to become one of the best midfielders of his generation, Grayson’s rise was less spectacular.

A solid defender or defensive midfielder, Grayson made just two first-team appearances for the Whites before joining Leicester City and becoming something of a Filbert Street legend.

He helped them to lift the League Cup in 1997 and after spells at Aston Villa and Blackburn, he finished his playing days at Blackpool, where he took his first steps into management.

In May 2007, Grayson guided the Seasiders into the Championship with a play-off final victory over Yeovil and the following year he succeeded Gary McAllister in the Elland Road hot-seat.

Grayson was a popular figure with the Leeds supporters after his side, then in League One, dumped bitter rivals Manchester United out of the FA Cup in January 2010.

Five months later, after an emotionally fraught 2-1 home success over Bristol Rovers, and Leeds were back in the Championship after three years in the third tier.

Grayson’s place in Elland Road folklore is assured - Leeds fans still serenade him with the chant 'You're Leeds and you know you are' - but he was sacked in February 2012 after a poor run of form.

Nevertheless, he reasserted his managerial pedigree by taking over at Huddersfield shortly after.

In May 2012, Grayson engineered another Wembley play-off final win, this time after the Terriers beat Sheffield United on penalties.
He was axed the following January but reinvented himself at Preston and in May 2015 the Deepdale outfit were celebrating promotion at Wembley after thrashing Swindon 4-0.

That ended North End’s dismal record of nine play-off defeats from nine.

In hindsight, Grayson was wrong to take on the poisoned chalice of managing Sunderland after quitting Preston last June.
Grayson lasted just 18 games at the Stadium of Light, but Bradford have seen the attraction of appointing a manager with a proven track record of success.

McCall is understood to have had numerous disagreements with the Bantams’ German owners over transfers, team selection and even who took penalties.

Grayson will look to stand his ground on those fronts as he bids to stop the rot, restore belief and make Bradford serious contenders once again.

With four promotions behind him already, you wouldn’t bet against him achieving a fifth at Valley Parade.

He will bring his trusted assistant Glynn Snodin and begin his reign with a huge match at play-off rivals Charlton on Tuesday.

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.