Bradford City sack their manager Mark Hughes with his permanent replacement set to be announced in ‘due course’, as per a club statement.
The former Wales boss is no longer in charge of the Bantams with the team currently sitting 18th in the current League Two standings.
The 59 year old had taken the Bantams to the playoffs last season but have only managed to win three out of 11 games since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
Assistant boss Glyn Hodges has also left the club, with Kevin McDonald named interim player-manager.
đ° | We have parted company with menâs first team manager Mark Hughes and assistant manager Glyn Hodges.
đ¤ | Kevin McDonald will take temporary charge in a caretaker player-manager role. #BCAFC
â Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) October 4, 2023
Bradford City AFC has parted company with menâs first team manager Mark Hughes and assistant manager Glyn Hodges.
The pair arrived at the University of Bradford Stadium in February 2022, with their tenure spanning a total of 19 months.
Cityâs chief executive officer, Ryan Sparks, said: âWe would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark and Glyn for their efforts and services to our football club over the past 19 months.
âThey made a great impact when they arrived at the club, both on and off the field, and last season came close to delivering on our aims.
âUnfortunately, since our defeat at Carlisle in the play-off semi-final, results have been disappointing, and after 11 league games we find ourselves a long way away from where we expect to be.
âAs a result, the decision has been taken to move in a different direction in an effort to get our season on track.
âOn a personal level, I have very much enjoyed working alongside Mark and Glyn, and we go our separate ways on good terms.
âI would ask supporters to join me in wishing both them and their families the very best for the future, while reflecting on some of the memorable moments they brought us.â
The process of appointing a new permanent manager is already underway, with an announcement to be made in due course.
Kevin McDonald will now take temporary charge of the menâs first team in a caretaker player-manager role, and will be assisted by Mark Trueman, commencing with this weekendâs visit of Swindon Town.
It comes after Tranmere recorded a much-needed win in their bid to move away from the League Two relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over Bradford at Prenton Park.
It was a strike in the 83rd minute from Kieron Morris that was enough to secure the points after Regan Hendry had seen his earlier effort cancelled out by Andy Cook.
Hughes said: âWe are disappointed. The performance in the first half was very good.
âWe should have probably been two goals to the good (before Tranmere scored) but unfortunately we were not able to convert some really good moments.
âMistakes can happen. It (their goal) was very much against the run of play at that point.
âWe have allowed them to score right at the end and give them that momentum in the final moments of the game.
âThey got the one chance at the end of the game and were able to take it. It was not meant to be for us.â
âI think there are positives we can take from the game,â he added.
âThe first half performance was good, and obviously Cookyâs goal is a positive.
âFor the most part, the performance was decent, we just did not take our chances.
âWe have not ended up getting anything out of the game. I think a point would probably have been fair.â
Here’s what fans had to say as Bradford City sack their manager with a replacement to be announced in ‘due course’…
@WfcAnt: Should have kept him he was doing a brilliant job
@bcafcwin: Nothing against Hughes whatsoever, heart was in the right place but ultimately poor tactics have cost him dear wish him nothing but the best #BCAFCC
@ellie_gill8: Feel quite sad to be honest. Disappointed it didnât work out & never expected this when we appointed him. đ¤Ż
@nezgudgeon: Another 1 bites the dust đđ #bcafc
@Chrisjeve: What a nonsense club this is!!! Sparks should follow him out…
@dianne51973: Let’s hope they let Kevin McDonald keep it till end of season
@Bantam33265097: I honestly think the challenge of getting us moving forward was too big for him weirdly đ¤ˇđźââď¸ with his lack of experience at this level he’s really struggled to get us consistently looking like a good settled side. Good luck to him though
@Jdarcy91: Joke decision. Fan and social media power. This is a really really bad decision.
@hrae81: Geniunely sad it didnt work out for him, but the writing was on the wall. Feel it was the beginning of the end when he tooks Banks off after just scoring in PO. His decision making, tactics and recruitment has been questionable since, no less so then alienating Jake Young
@gman19811: Sadly, one man carries the can for incredibly bad recruitment and a general mess of a club. The problems way lay deeper than the manager. Hope I’m wrong, but I can’t see anybody getting much out of this current squad of players. #bcafc
@PhilBradbury87: It was such a shock and buzz when we appointed MH. Sad to see us part company with Hughes. Hughes gave us our best season since relegation. For me, I had lost faith in him after the negative mentality of us during the playoffs and the Banks substitute in the 2nd leg #bcafc
@harry_mjames: All we need is a manager that can improve the basics. Attacking and defending. How hard is it to pass and move and create an overload itâs simple but effective and hughes couldnât do it. #bcafc
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