‘I’m allowed to manage’: Alexander rejects suggestions he’s told who to sign.

GRAHAM Alexander insists he’s his own man as City boss – rubbishing any suggestions that he has been told who to sign.

 

Tyreik Wright’s Valley Parade return on loan from Plymouth this week has excited fans and teammates.

 

But some have tried to claim that the deal was decided by chief executive Ryan Sparks and head of recruitment Stephen Gent.

 

Alexander, though, has laughed that off and stressed he has the final say with any player.

 

He said: “It would be impossible if all the recruitment was left to me on my own as well as managing the team and taking training.

 

“It’s why we have a team of people that work for the same thing. But it’s me that picks the team, it’s me who says, ‘that’s a good player, this is the profile we like, this is what we need’.

 

“This is why I’m here. I’m here to pick the team, manage the team and use my so-called football expertise to do the right things.

 

“I explained it quite clearly what I was looking for. They didn’t say, ‘right, you’ve got him’.

 

“They suggested they’ve got this player who is interested in coming back but does he fit the profile?

 

“I watched him, knew about him, said ‘yes he does’ and that’s it.

 

“I don’t know where these things come from but there’s absolutely no issue on that side of it.

 

“We’ve got our boundaries. I don’t do budgets or things like that, I know why I’m here from the football perspective.

 

“People have this or that control and I have mine. There are obviously bits that interlink which there has to be.

 

“But no, I’m allowed to manage.”

 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Tyreik Wright’s return has gone down very well on and off the pitch

Tyreik Wright’s return has gone down very well on and off the pitch (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Alexander, 21 years older than Sparks, says the age gap has never crossed his mind since being appointed City boss at the start of November.

 

“It’s just two blokes working together,” he added. “We work like we’re supposed to.

 

“He’s the CEO, I’m the football manager and we work together.

 

“We discuss everything. He gives me advice on some things, I give him advice on certain things.

 

“We use his skillset as well as mine to hopefully make Bradford City better.

 

“I’ve been a 19-year-old player, I’ve been a 39-year-old player. I’ve been older than the manager that I played for.

 

“When I was 19, I wanted to be picked because I was good enough. When I was 39, I wanted to be picked because I was good enough.

 

“I didn’t want to be judged by my age or this, that or the other. I would be the last person to judge anybody by something so futile as that.

 

“I judge everybody by how we talk, act and behave.”

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