After leaving Championship giants Leeds United, could Paul Heckingbottom make a shock return to League One club Bradford City?
Paul Heckingbottom might have won just four out of 16 games at Leeds United, he might have contributed heavily to Barnsley’s relegation from the Championship, and he might be leaving Elland Road with supporters cheering his departure.
But all this has done little to prevent fans of Bradford City clamouring for Heckingbottom to make an emotional return to Valley Parade.
The 40-year-old remains a big favourite at the Yorkshire club on the back of two spells with the Bantams in his pre-management career.
Heckigbottom was even named Bradford’s Player of the Season in 2004 before returning three years later, establishing himself as something of a modern day club legend.
And until that ill-fated spell at Leeds, Heckingbottom’s managerial career appeared to be heading in one direction. It was him who led Barnsley into the Championship in 2016 after winning the League One play-off final against Millwall.
The Tykes beat Oxford United in the Football League final at Wembley just a few weeks earlier, too.
And after Simon Grayson departed at the end of his short-term contract in May, Bradford are on the search for a new manager and Heckingbottom certainly ticks a lot of boxes. If he can lead Barnsley to the Championship, why couldn’t he do the same with the Bantams?
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