To suggest it has been a tough inauguration for David Hopkin as Bradford City’s 37th permanent manager would be an understatement – though he has undoubtedly not been helped by matters off the field.

However, Hopkin will be aiming for victory on Saturday to not only hopefully move the Bantams off the bottom of the League One table, but to also avoid creating an unwanted managerial record.

Since the switch to three points for a victory at the beginning of the 1981-82 league season, 22 men have managed Bradford City on a permanent basis – beginning with Roy McFarland.

McFarland, who left City under controversial circumstances shortly after guiding the Bantams to promotion, has the best record of any manager during their first ten league games in charge – taking 25 points from a possible 30.

At the other end of the scale, two men share the worst points return from their first ten games. Chris Hutchings, who was dismissed shortly after managing City for ten games in the Premier League, and Trevor Cherry – who is the only man not to win any of his first ten league games – have just six points between them.

The other man to have won just six points, Michael Collins, was in charge for just six league games.

The fact it is those two men, Hutchings and Cherry – one who was sacked so quickly and one who would go on and produce one of the most iconic Bradford City sides in history – who share that record suggest nothing is fatal, or indeed certain, at such an early stage in Hopkin’s managerial career.

But with the Scot having won just four points from his first nine league games in charge – the draw against Bristol Rovers followed by the win at AFC Wimbledon in the space of four days last month – it means only a win will save Hopkin from having the worst start to any City manager’s reign since three points for a win was introduced 37 years ago.

City managers since 1981 and points return from first 10 games in charge

Michael Collins
Points from first ten games: 6 (dismissed after six games)
Simon Grayson
Points from first ten games: 8
Stuart McCall
Points from first ten games: 18 (unbeaten)
Phil Parkinson
Points from first ten games: 9
Peter Jackson
Points from first ten games: 11
Peter Taylor
Points from first ten games: 14
Stuart McCall
Points from first ten games: 10
Colin Todd
Points from first ten games: 13
Bryan Robson
Points from first ten games: 9
Nicky Law
Points from first ten games: 13
Jim Jeffries
Points from first ten games: 9
Chris Hutchings
Points from first ten games: 6
Paul Jewell
Points from first ten games: 17
Chris Kamara
Points from first ten games: 16
Lennie Lawrence
Points from first ten games: 17
Frank Stapleton
Points from first ten games: 12
John Docherty
Points from first ten games: 8
Terry Yorath
Points from first ten games: 12
Terry Dolan
Points from first ten games: 12
Trevor Cherry
Points from first ten games: 6 (no wins)
Roy McFarland
Points from first ten games: 25