Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes heads to League Two Bradford

League Two giants Bradford have secured the services of former Wales and Manchester City manager Mark Hughes as their new boss on a two-and-half-year deal.

Hughes has been out of work since being sacked by Premier League Southampton in December 2018, but the Welshman takes a big drop down the footballing pyramid having also managed in the top-flight with Blackburn, Stoke, Fulham and QPR.

The former Manchester United forward replaces Derek Adams in the Bradford dugout and his first game in charge at Valley Parade will be a visit from promotion-chasing Mansfield on Saturday. Hughes is 31-20 to get off to a winning start in Yorkshire.

At the start of the season bookmakers expected the Bantams - who were 14-1 for the title - to figure in the battle for promotion yet after three straight defeats they find themselves 15th in League Two, just 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

With only 13 games remaining, Bradford are ten points adrift of the playoff protagonists, having in some cases also played three fixtures more.

That said, the Bantams are still considered more likely for promotion than relegation this season - they are 50-1 to go up and 150-1 to exit the EFL.

Adams has also made a quick return to management by re-joining former side Morecambe in League One.

The 46-year-old guided the Shrimps to what looked an unlikely promotion last season as they belied their status to win the League Two playoff final against Newport at Wembley.

Although opting to leave for fourth-tier powerhouses Bradford, Adams has returned to the Globe Arena in a bid to finish what he started and steer them to survival.

Morecambe are two points adrift of safety and are 1-3 for relegation as they prepare for Saturday’s home visit of Ipswich. The Shrimps are 16-5 to topple the Tractor Boys.

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