Kevin McDonald is currently unaware of Bradford City’s manager search, and he prefers it that way. The midfielder has been acting as the caretaker manager for the past two matches, both of which the team won. He will continue in this role for the upcoming match against Wimbledon on Saturday, as the club’s chief executive, Ryan Sparks, takes his time reviewing applications to fill the position that Mark Hughes vacated a week and a half ago.
While it’s a significant responsibility for the 34-year-old former player from Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Fulham, the club is trying not to overwhelm him. McDonald explained his approach, saying, “I would never be kept in the loop as a player. I can’t afford to start thinking about the longer-term. Especially this week, with Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday fixtures, it’s been quite hectic, going at 100mph.”
McDonald added that they might discuss his long-term role next week, but for now, the primary focus has been on setting up a competitive team for matches. He emphasized that they discuss their strategy before and after games, and he’s learned that this is how the relationship between managers and chief executives works.
It was somewhat surprising that McDonald was chosen for the job, especially considering that Mark Trueman, a former caretaker and co-manager of the club, was part of Hughes’ coaching staff. However, Trueman’s support has given McDonald confidence that combining playing and managing is sustainable in the long run, marking a change in his perspective.
McDonald stated, “Truey’s been good, and all the staff have embraced the change. He took charge of the team on Tuesday when I played at Grimsby Town in the Football League Trophy. I think being a player-manager is feasible when you have a strong support system. It would be more challenging if you aimed to play every single game, but if you’re willing to rotate, it can work.”
McDonald made nine changes to the team for the Grimsby match and achieved a victory, so he now has the task of determining the lineup for the upcoming game at Plough Lane. The only fresh injury concern is Dan Oyegoke, but Alex Pattison and Clark Oduour are still unavailable. Rayan Tulloch has recovered from illness.
Additionally, it was mentioned that the November game against Notts County will kick off at 12.30pm to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.