Friday 28 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Burnley dated

City will play Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday the 25th of March, 2003. The game, which was due to be played this Saturday, was moved to allow for the Claret's FA Cup progress.

Three game boost

The cash should be flowing at Valley Parade after Saturday with the Bantams playing three home games in the space of eight days. City start off with the visit of Walsall, a game that is very winnable, before taking on the altogether trickier proposition of a Premiership bound Leicester City team. Finally City play Crystal Palace at the third time of asking.

Such a glut of fixtures excited Nicky Law who believes that City can get the wins to all but rubber stamp the teams position in the league. Law said "I have told the players that we could have achieved our goal within the next few weeks. Four of them are certainly winnable and with the way we're playing at the moment there's no reason why we can't get something out of all of them."

These matches represent three of eight home games the Bantams have in March with Sheffield Wednesday and Reading also bouncing up to Valley Parade on the 18th and 22nd respectively. The month's travelling delights include Derby, Burnley and Norwich.

Thursday 27 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Saturday the Palace, Wednesday night in Burnley

Burnley's 3-0 win over Fulham means that they will be enjoying the glitter and glamour of the FA Cup when they were supposed to be enduring the drabness of the Nationwide League with City. City will now play Crystal Palace on Saturday 8 March, 2003 and the Burnley game will be redated to a midweek.

This is no doubt a good thing. BfB considers Burnley a humdinger of a midweek game, all fog and driving over the Pennines while oft called off Bradford City vs Crystal Palace games are very much a weekend affair.

Gray could miss Norwich trip

Having impressed for Scotland B Andy Gray is being tipped for a call into the Scotland for the game with Iceland at the end of March. Should Gray travel North he would miss City's game with Norwich.

Welsh in, Parker out

On the other side of the nine that Boro scored for City was 20 year old American striker Jon Welsh. Welsh, who has had three trials at Chelsea without winning a contact, is at City for two weeks. Meanwhile not angry American (or Canadian if you prefer) Brad Parker has left the club after his trial and does not look to be staying at Valley Parade.

Mills puts his boys bottom

The legendary Lee Mills scored to give Stoke a one goal win over City's Saturday opposition Walsall which not keeps the Saddlers below City in the league but also puts the club Mills supports, Sheffield Wednesday, bottom of the division.

Meanwhile Gordon Gibb has played up the importance of the weekend's game with Walsall saying "The Walsall game is massive. I know it's a cliche but this is a real six pointer but we can take a lot of confidence from winning at Coventry, where I thought we were terrific. It was frustrating as hell to lose to Brighton the week before but the team responded in a very professional way."

Wednesday 26 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Junihno tips Ekoku

Boro's Brazilian Juninho is reported to have his signed shirt duly signed to Daniel Ekoku following the 9-9 hammering of the reserves with the little World Cup winner singing the praises of City's 17 year old. Ekoku's star at City is rising and many are backing the London born Ekoku to make his full debut before the season is out.

Jamie wants to go out on a high

Jamie Lawrence, who seems ready to leave City to move closer to London at the end of the season, is hoping that the Bantams can finish as high as they can in his sixth year. "We have to look above ourselves and not at the teams at the bottom end of the table. We've now reached the same points as Preston and if we beat Walsall on Saturday we can start making our move. With a few of the experienced boys now coming back I don't see any reason why we can't keep pushing upwards. I think we can comfortably finish somewhere in the middle."

Vogts impressed by Gray

Scotland coach Berti Vogts has hinted that Andy Gray may be in the next Scotland squad after his goal in last night's B International with Turkey. Vogts said "Andy Gray scored and he played very well... A lot of them showed they can step up and now I am looking forward to the gathering on the 11 March."

Tuesday 25 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Gray's season gets better

Andy Gray's season got better tonight when he put Scotland Future (a.k.a. Scotland B) ahead against their Turkish counterparts. The Turks equalised and Gray missed another chance but the winger turned striker can have done his chances of a call into the full Scots squad no harm at all.

All of which is a far cry from the player at the start of the season who turned up to Valley Parade clubless looking for somewhere to train and a chance to restart his career. With the Scotland senior squad so goal shy one has to wonder if Son of Eddie will be getting the word from the Pantone#300's full side and as BfB reader David Turner points out the recent precedent for wingers turned strikers, one Thierry Henry, shows the path that we would all have Gray follow.

20,000 see boy from Brazil thrash City's reserves

The kick off of City's reserve game at Middlesborough was delayed after 20,000 turned up to watch Junhino take City's mostly juniors apart 9-0. Men against boys? With the majority of City's side under 21 it was really. Interestingly Juninho's return was marred for the Boro fans at least by a decent man marking job in the Brazilian by City's Boro born Criag s Craig Fishlock.

City pay £10,000 to Palace

Crystal Palace are owed £10,000 for two trips to Bradford for postponed games.

Monday 24 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

It never gets any easier for the reserves

City's reserves, which one must remember is really just the juniors that have not made the first team yet, go to Middlesborough tonight to be faced by World Cup winner Juninho and England defender Ugo Ehiogu. In light of the return of the tiny, tiny Brazilian Boro have moved the game from Billingham to the Riverside Stadium as both men are expected to bring dogs to watch the game.

Boro also field ace Italian badly Massimo Maccarone and and Szilard Nemeth who's name, tellingly, is an anagram of Net Men Lizards.

Gray: "I quite enjoy playing up front"

City's twelve goal right hand side midfielder striker Andy Gray has talked about his debut to constantly berated and apparently underrated forward line partner Ashely Ward as he assesses his bets position for City. Said Gray "I quite enjoy playing up front now. I think playing up front is the best position for me now. When I came into this season I didn't really set any targets but to be leading goal-scorer is fantastic. But as long as the team is winning I don't care who is getting the goals. It helps playing with someone like Ashley up there, he is such an experienced player and he played some great balls for me. We have a good understanding."

Gray's 12 goals in 31 games this season is City's highest and has even started to threaten the lower reaches of the First Division top scorers list. Gray is above seven goal man Claus Jorgensen with Sunderland's Michael Proctor third in City's list with four, Ashley Ward next with three and then the likes of Michael Standing, Paul Reid and Paul Evans the latter of which got his first goal for Blackpool, where he is on loan, this weekend.

Sunday 23 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams win on the road again

Jorgesen and Gray score to give City 2-0 win at Coventry

David Wetherall returned for City who saw Andy Gray and Claus Jorgensen both score to beat Wimbledon 2-0 at Highfield Road.

Wetherall on Lewis

David Wetherall believes that Lewis Emanuel is key to City's recent prosperity. Speaking about Mani the City skipper said "When he has been playing left-side midfield, he has been so positive, taking people on and using his power and pace. We certainly have some good kids and we are hoping they will continue to mature and develop." City have an option to extend Emanuel's contract for the next too seasons and it would seem that if the skipper is consulted then that option will be taken up.

Law on McAllister vs Lawrence

Nicky Law was pleased with himself after detailing Jamie Lawrence to man mark Gary McAllister during City's 2-0 win over the Sky Blues. Law said "I have seen them [Coventry City] play a few times this season and if you stop Gary McAllister, you stop Coventry, Jamie Lawrence did a magnificent job on him today and only let him out of his sight once. It was a brilliant team performance, and everyone comes out of that with maximum credit."

The Jamie Lawrence man marking plan represents something of a Plan B for City where McAllister is concerned. Plan A, of course, was about throwing pitch forks at the former Leeds man.

Friday 21 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Roland Harris

Cooper's final game

Chris Cooper, the voice of Bradford City for local radio station The Pulse, will commentate on his final Bantams game this weekend at Coventry City before leaving the station to work for TalkSport as he treads the path to being the next Alan Green or Jonathan Pearce.

Here at BfB we tried to think of a fitting tribute to Coops by compiling a five greatest moments list but in doing so one moment towered above all else. Ladies and gentlemen, for your downloading pleasure, "The Blackpool towers a mile down the road..."

Law on video

Nicky Law has spoken for video replays saying "It was so disappointing to lose to such a controversial goal last Saturday. The more I see it the worse it gets. I still do not think it was a goal. It shouldn't be like this in 2003 with the technology we have got at our disposal. It was different with the Geoff Hurst goal in 1966."

Law continued "We are still getting done on a regular basis with debatable decisions. There has got to be a better way of doing it. You can't put a decision like Saturday's behind you. This is a multi-million pound business. There's people's jobs at stake - these decisions have got to be right. It's not about managers, players or referees' egos, it is about getting things right. In two or three seconds watching the Sky cameras, you can tell if a goal was a goal. The game can still flow - there has to be some way of working it out."

Law's boss Gordon Gibb disagrees with video replays and says specifically about the Brighton game that the problems would not have happened if City had played better. BfB editor Michael Wood concurred that Video replays are not the way.

Wetherall ready for comeback

Speaking in his column in the Telegraph and Argus David Wetherall confirmed that he is ready to play some part in Saturday's game with Coventry City saying "I am champing at the bit. I don't see there being a problem with regards to injuries flaring up."

Muirhead to be offered City contract

Word around Valley Parade is that the club have been impressed by the performances and attitude of Manchester United trialist Ben Muirhead and that the club are ready to offer the Doncaster born forward a contract. Muirhead's situation is reminiscent of Tom Kearney's joining City last season where after being released by a Premiership club his attitude was sufficiently impressive for Nicky Law to bring him to the club and eventually into the first team squad. Muirhead has been a professional at Old Trafford since January 2000.

Palace chairman moans on

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has taken another pop at City following the called off game at Valley Parade saying "We knew there was no chance of the match going ahead earlier in the week because the pitch was frozen. Bradford could have had the decency to let us know instead of getting us there wasting a whole day plus travelling and hotel expenses." Of course Jordan is talking behind talk. The pitch failed it's inspection on Tuesday night but passed one on the Thursday morning for the reserve game that evening leading one to believe that there must have been some chance that a turn in the weather could have had the Palace game on.

Thursday 20 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Wetherall and Myers back in reserves

David Wetherall and Andy Myers both played the first half in City's reserves 4-0 drubbing to Birmingham City. Wetherall got through an hour and look likely to play against Coventry at the weekend. Manchester United trialist Ben Muirhead and Daniel Ekoku impressed.

Palace gets

Crystal Palace are due for another set of travel expenses from City after raced up to Yorkshire on Tuesday morning for the Wednesday night game that was called off on Tuesday evening. Gordon Gibb commented "Unfortunately the Palace team had set off from London at lunchtime on Tuesday and were already in Yorkshire when the decision was made, so it looks like we will need to pay their costs again. It is not an ideal position for us at the moment because of the club's cash-flow position, but there is nothing we can do about the situation."

Wednesday 19 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Palace game date depends on FA Cup progress

Shaun Harvey would like City's game with Crystal Palace to be played on March the 8th FA Cup Quarter Final day should Burnley beat Fulham in the Fifth Round replay. City are scheduled to play the Clarets on that day but could be free to play Palace who were, of course, knocked out of the FA Cup by Leeds United weekend and scheduled to play Watford.

Gibb on video replays and young payers

Whoever suggested that Gordon Gibb and Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan should get together for a push for video replays after both club's suffered no goal problems at the weekend will have got a lesson in the young City chairman's steel. Gibb was firm in saying "You can moan all the way to the Second Division. A bad decision led to us losing three points. But if we had put one in the onion bag ourselves we would not have lost. I won't be wasting my time on video replay crusades. There will be no joining of forces with Simon Jordan." (In his column BfB editor Michael Wood thinks that Video replays are not the way)

Gibb is an interesting chairman. His role at the club should point to him knowing nothing about the game but his father's connections with Scots football and his own time spent earning a contract offer from a club North of the Border give him more experince in the game than the vast majority of fans. Gibb is spot on when he says that the bad goal Brighton scored would not have been a problem had City played as well as we should have.

So when Gibb talks about the City squad his opinion has more weight that most of the game's chairmen who have never been near a football field. Gibb is particularly pleased with the progress that the club have made in recruiting and developing young players "I'm astounded by the strides we have made [In youth development]. I made it clear in August that this was a key area. Simon Francis has acquitted himself extremely well. By the end of the season he will have 20-25 first-team apparances in Division One - a superb record for one so young."

Atherton lining up Wigan return?

Wigan fans are speculating that Paul Jewell's Latics are lining up a move for former star Peter Atherton once he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Tuesday 18 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Palace game off again

A 7.00pm pitch inspection at by referee Eddie Evans on Tuesday night to see if Wednesday's game with Crystal Palace can be played proved to be unsuccessful and as a result the match with Crystal Palace has been called off for the second time. For the benefit of those reading this site from London and for City supporters based away from Bradford, it is bloody freezing too.

Saturday's team shows Nicky's failings

Feel free to skip this paragraph if you are tired of hearing about Saturday's team selection but speaking to Pulse Sport about Simon Francis Nicky Law said "I thought Simon did well in certain spells. It was difficult for him as he was playing out of position wide on the right, whereas he's actually a defender. He shows great touches and everyone knows that he'll be a good player, and he's technically very good. He's just got to continue to stay in the team and learn the game of football, and I'm sure that's what he'll do." You have to wonder why, if Law knows that Francis is a defender, he was not put into the side for Robert Molenaar allowing Peter Atherton to continue in central midfield and keep Michael Standing out of that area where he clearly cannot work with Claus Jorgesen. Further to that one would have thought that the tall and pacy Francis would have been a perfect man marker for Bobby Zamora.

Mark Bower and Simon Francis were paired at the back previously and horrendously against Wimbledon in the 5-3 defeat at Valley Parade but most of the problems that day came from Standing's lightweight central midfield display and even though the Don's showed litle ambition on that day, Brighton showed even less and one feels that a sturdy central midfielder would have kept the backline secure. I fail to recall a single midfield run from Brighton.

Perhaps the problem is that we have found Nicky Law's failing. He is a good motivator and very good at spotting and developing young players but his selection and tactical depths do not run so deep. This is not damning criticism and certainly something that the young manager can work on and get better at. All managers have faults...

What City managers were rubbish at
[I'm just] Bob[bing] out for a couple of months

Robert Molenaar's flu that became a torn hamstring will keep the lumbering Dutchman out for two months leaving him with only a handful of games to play for City before his contract expires in the summer. Nicky Law bemoaned once more... "It's quite a nasty one. e're looking at anything up to about eight weeks for Robert and, obviously that's a big blow. It's another disappointment but that's the way things have been going all season to be honest and we've just got to get on with it." One has to ask if there is something happening at training for City that means that we are picking up so many injuries although one also suspects the answer to that question concerns the size of the squad and the fact tha6 players are coming back before they are fully fit because we do not have the luxary of a large squad. Danny Cadamarteri on Saturday being a prime example.

David Wetherall looks set to continue the coming back early trend to replace Molenaar although Wednesday night might be a little soon.

Emanuel praises Jakes

Lewis Emanuel has paid tribute to his team mate Wayne Jacobs for helping the youngster adapt to life on the left wing "It's great having Wayne Jacobs behind with all his experience. He talks to me a lot during matches and that is a real help. I like to attack so it's an ideal position for me." Such praise will come as a blow to the growing ranks of Jacobs baters who have been waiting years for the ginger left back to let his standards drop, so far they have not. Mani's praise echos that given to City's longest serving player by Peter Beagrie in the late nineties and early 2000s.

Speaking about the hamstring strain that City's bright young left wing thing hopes will not keep him out of tomorrow's game with Crystal Palace Mani said "It's nothing too serious. I just tweaked it a little bit towards the end of the first half at Wimbledon. The hamstring had felt fine up to then and using cycling shorts had helped a lot. I didn't wear them at Wimbledon and perhaps that was the problem but I hope to be back in quickly. I think the season has been going well for me so far, I'm feeling a bigger part of the squad and my confidence has gone up."

Finally on the number of local lads in the City team Emanuel said "It's good to see a few of the Bradford lads coming through and I think Danny Forrest has done really well. All the young players know they can go for the first team and if they do well, they could get the chance."

Monday 17 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Jamie resurectus

Jamie Lawrence, who seems to be forever playing his final game for City, is in line for a come back in the reserves on Thursday night following his chinning injury.

Law fumes: Part 1,613

Nicky Law seems to spend half of his life fuming at the official and the rubbishness of Gary Salisbury against City for Brighton set the City boss off on another bout of righteous anger saying "I said to the referee that it was a performance I won't forget for a long time, the crowd and players don't get so irate as they do when things are done right. It's the official's job to set the pattern of the game and clamp down on it but at the end it was just a free for all. The rules are changing every week. When you're in the heat of the battle, to see the official grimacing at you or giving a wry smile makes your blood boil but nobody listens. I've tried it both ways and marked referees to the maximum and the minimum and it's always wrong. You can't win."

Davo: I wanted game called off

Aidan Davison has revealed how he tried to get referee Gary Salisbury to abandon game against Brighton because his goal area was frozen and was too dangerous to play in. The joke of a ref ignored him of course. Davison ranted "I pulled him up regarding the state of the goal-mouth. It didn't take a stud and wouldn't have taken a rubber sole either. I was having to take goal-kicks from the deadball line and had to climb over the advertising board to get a run-up. It was a farce. It was dangerous as far as I was concerned and I said to the ref that if I injured myself, I wanted it on record that a complaint had been made about the pitch. The rest of the pitch was fine but the goal-mouth was solid because it didn't get any sun on it and it was getting worse as the temperature dropped. It's all right saying there might not be too much action up there and the referee doesn't go in the six-yard box normally, but there are a lot of strikers, defenders and goalkeepers who do. I always thought if you walked up to a ref and rationally asked him a question you'd get a proper reply but he certainly didn't look at the area and simply told me to change my footwear - what should I have worn? Golf shoes?"

City's keeper was unimpressed with the Ref and his linesman David Foster for giving Bobby Zamora a goal he did not score. Davison said "I always thought you had to be 100 per cent sure before giving a goal and I was astonished when he blew. I don't like slaughtering officials because they get a raw deal but I thought they were poor. If you look behind the goal line there's a big slope so I ended up in the net, although my hands were forward. But I wonder if it deceived the linesman because my body was in the goal."

PJ: This is still my club

Paul Jewell took in City's loss to Brighton at Valley Parade and raised a few interesting points to those that had a word with him. Firslt PJ would like £3m of Wigan chairman Dave Whelan's money to buy Bobby Zamora for Wigan but he can't have it. Secondly PJ retold the story of Geoffrey Richmond turning down Sheffield Wednesday and telling him he was not happy with 16th in the Premiership on the same day and finally, and most interestingly, PJ went all dewy eyed and said that he still considered City his club and he believed that one day he would be back in the big chair at Valley Parade.

Footie fights

David Beckham's good kicking off Sir Fergs of Old Trafford has started the brawling footballers/managers banter going with the BBC including Trickly Trev slapping his keeper Alex Kolinko after City scored at Palace, a timely reminder when the car rocking boss birngs his Palace team, dodgy chairman and all, into Bradford this Wednesday night.

Mills joins Stoke

One of the fourteen, Lee Mills, has joined Stoke until the end of the season.

Saturday 15 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

1-0, no goals

City lose 1-0 to Brighton after "it-never-went-in" goal

City never looked like scoring, neither did Brighton which is why they were very grateful when a header that did not go in was given as a goal as City lost 1-0 to Brighton at Valley Parade.

Bob injured in kicking in

Robert Molenaar was going to be starting for City but in the pre-match kick in he had to be helped from the field and as a result he missed the City losing 1-0 to Brighton at Valley Parade.

Friday 14 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Jorgi with an eye on scoring record

Jack Deakin did it for City in 1938, John McCole in 1959 and should Claus Jorgensen get on the score sheet tomorrow against Brighton he will have done it in 2003. City's Dane, at times Valley Parade's most unwanted guest, has six in the last six games, a seventh would equal the club record.

The fact that Jorgensen is a midfielder, not a forward makes his achievement impressive, the fact for long spells of his 18 months at Valley Parade he was unwanted by management points to the Dane still being here was some sort of miracle. Jim Jefferies signed Jorgensen without having seen him on the advice of former chief scout Andy Scott who had previously brought the club the likes of Tommy Miller, Jason Roberts, Nathan Ellington and Neil Harris only to see his efforts ignored. Jefferies never seemed to fancy Jorgensen, something he had in common with Nicky Law who called the player "Not one of my sort" and left him rotting on the bench until injury forced his hand.

In a way Jorgensen is not a Law player. He is not combative in the tackle and does not see getting goal side of his man as the main priority but he has heart. Two lengthy spells without first team football have not dampened the Dane's spirit and everytime he has been called upon, he responded. At Burnley last season he got a crucial goal and although Michael Proctor took the credit it was Jorgi's running and double shot that gave up the last gasp equaliser against the Clarets this year.

BfB is desperate to see Jorgensen given a new deal by City considering him the most exciting prospect at a club that is beginning to get a good number of exciting prospects: Mark Bower, Simon Francis, Michael Standing, Danny Forrest, Lewis Emanuel, Mark Danks. They can all learn from the attitude of the Danish midfielder who stands on the brink of Bradford City history.

Alleged striker Ashley Ward paid tribute to the Dane saying "Claus is on the sort of run where he goes out there almost knowing he will score. He's on a remarkable record and we're all pleased for him. Periods like that in your career don't come around very often. When they do it's great and you hope it will always continue. As a striker, you end up being a bit envious of Claus. Maybe his success will rub off on me as well." We can only hope.

Read about the goals that make the six goals in six game purple patch.

Standing on being booed at Brighton

Michael Standing, Brighton fan and great Nephew of the Seagull's chairman, had a rough time at the Withdean when City lost 3-2, didn't we all, with some of the home fans booing him. Standing said "It was an absolute nightmare, the lowest I have ever been. I was buzzing to play and then everything went wrong. I'd had a back injury so the manager didn't want to risk me. I thought I wouldn't get on and then when I did it was for the last few minutes and a few of the Brighton fans gave me some stick. I'd never even played for them. With us getting turned over and then hearing that, it was a really bad day all-round. It's fair to say I've got a score to settle tomorrow. And I'm due a goal - it would be the perfect time to do it."

Using his inside knowledge Standing issued a warning to his City team mates saying "Brighton have improved massively from when we last played them. We're on a very good run ourselves but we have to be right or it will backfire. They are coming off a great win over Wolves and don't concede a lot of goals. It's going to be a very tight game but if we can beat them, then for the first time we can start looking above us. We will be 13 points off the bottom three with a game in hand and can then think about aiming for the top half."

Standing concluded with a rose tinted look at the times he recalled "That Brighton game was a bit of a turning point for me. I came back against Wimbledon the next week and scored a couple of goals and although the manager left me out for a bit to change the system, I've been involved regularly since we started playing more football."

Evans staying at the seaside

Paul Evans has had his loan at Blackpool extended for another month. By all accounts Evans is performing well for the Tangerines and although there is clearly a problem between him and manager Nicky Law should his return to form be marked and his differences with the City boss not be intractable then it is possible that Evans will be playing for City again. He has a further three and a half years on the deal he signed in August, 2002.

Kids doing it right

City's kids will be playing in the 26th International Whitsun Tournament in Hamm, Germany in June 2003. The tournament gives City's kids an early look at different styles of football, no bad thing when you think that some of these kids could be representing City in the Champions League in five years time if everything goes to plan, and should give them good experience. Hamm is, of course, the twinned with Bradford and the people of that City provided the memorial that can be found in Centenary Square.

Thursday 13 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Blades cool on Walsh

A Sheffield United spokesman has played down speculation linking Gary Walsh with a move to the Blades saying "It's the first I've heard of it. There's certainly been nothing said about that." However one has to speculate that if Walsh was Sheffield bound then the approach would come through Walsh's City mate and now United number two Stuart McCall.

Skipper looks to the future

David Wetherall has been talking about his prospects for the future after it was revealed that he would be staying at City next season despite his injury problems. The City skipper said "I have been assured that there is no reason why I cannot be a 'normal' footballer again, there have been some really low points and it has been an extremely frustrating period of my career. I have had no trouble with the groin this season, and I have just been extremely unlucky. I feel great and while it may be too early to start against Brighton, I am training with the first-team squad and looking to be involved. The players have done excellently over the last few weeks but we are not out of the woods yet - things can slip just as quickly as they improve if you are not careful. We still need five more wins to get to the 50-point barrier that is the target for safety."

Magnusson injury puts pay to Walsh move

Stefan Magnusson's three minutes injury in the reserves could put pay to City's chances of saving £90,000 on shipping Gary Walsh out to Sheffield United. The Blades are reported to be keen to Walsh as cover and City will allow the keeper to leave now as opposed to pay him for the final four months.

However should Magnusson's injury be a reoccurrence of the keepers previous problems then he will almost certainly not play for City and would leave Nicky Law looking for another keeper to cover Aidan Davison and Gary Walsh.

Richmond talks back

Geoffrey Richmond put his head over the parapet to talk about the debts that drove City into administration. Most notably Richmond talked about how the club ended up £33m in the red saying that a professional football accountant has looked at City's playing squad and valued it at £32m. Richmond joked that the accountant was £31.5m out but it is perhaps a little more understandable that the club could spend on the basis that those assets could be realised. The collapse of the transfer market and devaluation of footballers left City with all debts and no assets.

It is also worth wondering which of the twenty or so players in the City squad were valued at multi-million pound figures in order to make £32m. Of the team that stayed up Andy O'Brien was sold for £2m, Lee Mills for £1.35m and Dean Windass for £1m. Manchester City wanted to pay £1.4m for David Wetherall, Crystal Palace spent £1.1m on Matt Clarke and Burnley splashed £1m on Robbie Blake. Other bits and bats were sold to let us round the value of those marketable commodities to a generous £9m leaving us with the conclusion that "a professional football accountant" must have valued Gunnar Halle at £23m.

Aussies show England what is going wrong

England get beat by Australia and you can't look Bruce or Kylie in the eye. Michael Wood says that Aussies show England what is going wrong.

Wednesday 12 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Walsh wanted by Warnock?

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock is looking at signing soon to be fit Gary Walsh was back up to his former Bradford Park Avenue keeper Paddy Kenny. Quiet why Walsh should bench sit to someone he is clearly betterthan is not sure however the deal does represent a chance for City to save some £90,000 on the rest of Walsh's contract and considering the stopper is injured most of the time, such a deal would be hard to turn down.

Two promotion teams kitted out for centenary season

City will unveiled the centenary season home and away shirts on May 24th 2003 in a game that will see the Wembley side of 1996 play the team that got into the Premiership in 1999. Wayne Jacobs, one assumes, will play a half for each side while Nicky Law might be advised to check on free scoring Notts County forward Mark Stallard who will be tucking away flick downs from Ian Ormondroyd for the Wembley side.

Read about The Wembley 14

Gibb's keynote speech

Gordon Gibb Julian Rhodes and Managing Director Shaun Harvey outlined the plans for the future of City. Nothing stunning and frankly proceedings were haunted by the ghost of Geoffrey Richmond's crowd pleasing style. Gibb at al were less showbiz but more honest feeling.

Harvey on the job done

Bantams MD Shaun Harvey, a man who many thought would follow Geoffrey Richmond out of Valley Parade but who has proved to be a valuable link between old and new regimes at City, has spoken about the past 9 months saying "We've done an enormous amount of unglamorous, low-profile work to stabilise the company. We've got more to do in that regard but we're now also able to look forward to the future rather than just concentrating on dealing with matters as they crop up on a day-to-day basis. One of the key factors last year during the dark days of administration was the support from the fans. That is still as important today as it was then. The biggest sign of support the fans can give us is by showing their commitment and purchasing their season-tickets as early as possible."

Harvey continued as he unveiled City's price freeze on match days saying "We have looked carefully at the pricing structure and believe it represents the best value. We've got to look to protect the existing supporter base but also allow it to grow by charging reasonable prices." Gone is the policy of pricing blocks of seats individually. It shall now be the same to sit at the from to Block J in the Kop as the back.

The club are also offering a number of special deals on early renewals including season passes to Flamingo Land and Pleasure Island and replica shirts.

Danks in the with kids

Mark Danks, who has been pushed from the first team by Danny Forrest, scored twice as the juniors belted Lincoln City 6-3. Luke Richardson, Anthony Doherty, Liam Flynn and Sean Clifford got other goals for City's kids.

Latapy knocks back Jim again

Jim Jefferies' Kilmarnock tried to sign Rangers Russell Latapy, a player who turned down City to go to Ibrox while Jim was City boss, but Latapy turned down the Rugby Park club and looks set for a move to Brstol City. Perhaps he just doesn't like you Jim?

Tuesday 11 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Reserves lose: When will it end

You have to wonder just how good for City player's moral getting tanked in the reserves week in, week out is. This week Aston Villa put four past the Bantams second string with goals from Peter Hynes, Steven Davis, Peter Whittingham and Luke Moore. Gary Walsh played but did not look 100% and was subbed for Stefan Magnusson who was in turn injured and went off with a knee problem. Robert Morgan, who had come on to replace David Wetherall, went in goal again. Wetherall came through the game without problems.

Law: No new signings

Nicky Law has said that he hopes to get to the end of the season without any new signings after learning that Gary Walsh, David Wetherall and Tom Kearney are all progressing well. Law said "I think, if we can, we're going to try to go without new players between now and the end of the season, a lot will depend on not picking up new problems, which can't be relied upon as we know. But, hopefully, the squad I've got now can see me through." Wetherall and Walsh both play for the reserves tonight against Aston Villa. City also field former Cardiff City man Michael Simpkins and Manchester United's Ben Muirhead. Canadian International Brad Parker, who has been on trial at City, also plays.

Tellingly although Daniel Ekoku and Kevin Sanasy take the field for the second string Danny Forrest, who's elevation to the first team squad seems permanent, does not feature.

Monday 10 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Wetherall back in training

David Wetherall has returned to training and hopes to make an appearances against Brighton this weekend. Wetherall has been out with a hamstring problem following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a groin injury. Wetherall, one of the club's highest paid players, has little chance of getting a new deal with the Bantams next term owing to his salary and injury problems and so now faces a four month spell in which he had to attract the interest of another club.

Should he not do that then one assumes City will offer the skipper the standard £80,000 a year. BfB hopes Wethers would take that but is not holding it's breath.

Gray gets call up

One time wannabe City boss Berti Vogts has called City's top scorer Andy Gray into the goal shy Scotland for the international game in Antalya with Turkey on 25 February, 2003.

Bantams with caps, Bantam cap chances
Law: This is promotion

Nicky Law believes that City's continued division one status would be the equivalent of promotion following the summer of Administration. Law said "If we can maintain our status in this division it will be an equal achievement to Leicester and Portsmouth going up. We're still ten points clear of the relegation zone and it's looking increasingly more difficult for the teams below to catch us. We've got Brighton here on Saturday and also Walsall and Sheffield Wednesday at home and we've got to make sure we don't lose those games." The City boss has a fail point. During the summer City had five players at the club and little hope of seeing the season. It would be great tribute to all at the club if we do stay up and set ourselves in a position to prosper next year.

Sunday 09 February, 2003

Today's News by Roland Harris and Michael Wood

Jorgi's sixth puts City on the way to a point

Bantams get a 2-2 draw at Wimbledon

Just over 1,1,00 people saw Claus Jorgensen and Ashley Ward score to give City a 2-2 draw at Wimbledon, Roland Harris was one of them.

Why Roland went to Wimbledon

BFB columist Roland Harris did not think twice about ignoring the boycott and going to Selhurst Park to watch City vs Wimbledon

Jorgi offered three year deal

BfB spies report that City have offered Claus Jorgensen a three year deal at Valley Parade though suggest that City's offer of £80,000 a year falls somewhat sort of the Dane's desire wage.

Law: Jorgi's my baby

Nicky Law smiled his way away from Selhurst Park with a 2-2 draw saying "Aidan Davison's not trained all week and was magnificent, whilst Claus Jorgensen's on fire. That's 6 goals in 6 games; it must be down to the good coaching he's getting!"

Beni speaks

Benito Carbone was never going to stay quiet about his time in England and the Italian has some damning things to say about City, about Geoffrey Richmond and about his famed walk out.

Starting off Carbone revealed he had few regrets about his time in English football saying "I think of my experience in England utterly positively, from top to bottom, if people have judged me solely on the basis of the few problems I had, I'd just call them hypocrites."

On the Sheffield Wednesday boss who had him Carbone said "I got on well with Danny Wilson (the manager) in my first year but the next year, he just became one of the establishment and went against me. He didn't have any sort of character."

His words for Aston Villa boss John Gregory are much nicer but Villa Park chairman Doug Ellis gets a broadside "I got on superbly with him, he was my salvation. Compared to Danny Wilson it was like night and day. Doug Ellis has no ambition. He's the boss and spends the money, but he's always bought a mediocre level of player, and Villa can't compete for the League title like that."

It's interesting that Carbone equates a failure to pay him big money to a lack of ambition. Certainly he liked the cut of City's ambition when we offered it although he was less impressed when he arrived saying "Don't make me remember it, there was nothing there that resembled a football club. Not the chairman, not the training facilities, not the manager. Nothing." One wonders which of the managers, Chris Hutchings or Jim Jefferies, Carbone means however I'm prepared to believe he means both.

Carbone lashed the City chairman saying "Geoffrey Richmond is the worst person I've met in football. I never created problems for anybody, they made them all themselves. I've always been a perfect professional. People say that I'm crazy, but I'm normal. They're the crazy ones." One might question with Carbone as the perfect professional, BfB does not recall Stuart McCall ever refusing to play, but the phrase "They're the crazy ones" rings very true.

Carbone's comments are interesting but said with something of a rose tinted view. Carbone's famed walk out was dealt with correctly but even if most fervent advocates, and personally I have a twenty he autographed hung in my kitchen, have to question his perfect professional claims in the light o said refusal to play. Carbone's comment on that day are light saying "I went back to Italy, but Bradford phoned me to say they wanted me back straight away. I had a few things to sort out, so I said I'd come back the next week. I did, and I was on the bench - just think, this was Division One. I said I'd prefer to sit in the stand."

Friday 07 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law acts early to avoid keeper headache

With Aidan Davison struggling with an injury Nicky Law has moved quickly to avoid a Neville Southall situation signing up Wakfield born Neil Bennett on a short term deal. Bennett has been playing his football in the League of Eire. Davison is facing a late fitness test while Gary Walsh has yet to prove his fitness following a long term injury. Stefan Magnusson is lined up to take the place from Davison should the keeper not be fit. Nicky Law spoke about his new injury problems saying "Ideally I would have liked to have Gary Walsh available. He's looking really sharp in training but we just need to know he's going to be okay. Gary keeps thinking things are fine and then he has a little bit of a lapse. Stefan is a young goalkeeper and technically there's a lot of work to be done but that's why we've got Martin Hodge to help. But he is an international and you don't get that status if you are any mug."

Robert Molenaar is unwell and Wayne Jacobs injured leaving City under strength at the back. Simon Francis misses after his red card against Grimsby Town. Peter Atherton and Andy Gray return after suspension.

Cadamarteri does a deal

Danny Cadamarteri has done a deal with City putting off his bonus based on appearances. It is believed that the wording of the contract has been altered from appearance to start meaning that the former Everton striker will only get his extra £1,000 a week once he is back in the first eleven. BfB admires Cadamarteri's willingness to prove himself fit and ready to go and forego what is contractually his.

Chairman Gordon Gibb agrees with the BfB view saying "There's no problem in his representative providing us with a letter of comfort we need over his injury. Danny just wants to play football and we are all being very positive about this."

Danks in the cold

Word coming out of the Applely Bridge training ground is that young striker Mark Danks, who was released by Wolves after showing a "bad attitude" has fallen out with Nicky Law after showing a similar disposition.

Thursday 06 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law wants five more wins

Nicky Law believes that five more wins will keep City in Divison One. Law said "We've got 17 games to go and only need to win five of them, which is less than one in three but we've got a nine-point gap and if we can pick up another six from the next two against Wimbledon and Brighton it will make things a lot easier. It speaks volumes for everybody to go seven defeats on the trot and then turn it round like we have done to win five of the next seven. And if we can beat Brighton, Walsall and Sheffield Wednesday at home within the next five weeks then by the end of March we could be almost there."

Football Supporters Federation: Don't go to Wimbledon

The Football Supporters Federation wants City fans to boycott Saturday's clash with Wimbledon as a protest at chairman Charles Koppel moving the Dons to Milton Keynes. Dave Boyle of the Football Supporters Federation "The money Bradford fans pay over the gate will be used to move a team to another part of the country." It's ironic at in this discussion of teams losing their identity Boyle fails to get the name of our club correct, Bradford being the green and white hooped lot.

Boyle continued "Every penny that they don't get is a penny less for them to use on this scheme. The Wimbledon fans have done everything they can, but failed. The only people who can still stop this is the rest of football. I suggest that any fans who are travelling down attend AFC Wimbledon's fixture with Westfield and, you would be guaranteed a warm welcome."

Wednesday 05 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

The other Danny goes to Tod-land

Danny Cadamarteri, the other Danny who plays up front for City, will not play again for City until he agrees to delay an appearance bonus of £1,000 in his contract. Gordon Gibb was firm when he said "We wouldn't begrudge Danny that money in the normal run of things if we could guarantee he is fit but we don't know. We don't want to take the risk of playing him for one game and then ending up paying an extra £1,000 every week for another three years of his contract if he is going to be out long-term with an operation. I wouldn't like to think it keeps Danny on the subs' bench indefinitely but it's a massive decision for club and player."

Speaking frankly Gibb continued "There are long, hard conversations to be had with his people. We are not prepared to take a considerable financial gamble and we would like a letter agreeing to put this contract clause on ice. We've spent a lot of time and effort diagnosing the problem. We've brought in experts who have written report after report about him. It's a biomechanical issue and an imbalance we are trying to rectify. But if we don't, then it will mean Danny going under the knife which will involve long-term rehabilitation."

A firm Gibb concluded "It's not that we are penny-pinching. Danny is entitled to the money because it is written in his contract and it will get paid when we are in a better position to do so but I won't gamble on this. The gambling days are over at Bradford City."

All of which leaves Cadders in a similar situation to Andy Tod with a single key difference. In the case of Cadamarteri the decision ot forgo the money is his, not a third party as it was with Tod and Dunfermline. As Gibb says the player is entitled to the money but BfB believes the chairman is right not to stake what could be £150,000 on the fitness of a single player.

Jamie played his final game?

A reassesment of his multiple facial fracture suggests that Jamie Lawrence may be out until the end of the season which would take him up to the termination of his contract. The emergence of Danny Forrest may allow Andy Gray to move back to the right side of midfield to cover Lawrence and while Claus Jorgensen's continued form gives Nicky Law an option in midfield.

Ward to Luton

Rumour has it that Ashley Ward will be joining Luton on loan. You heard it hear second, or third. Well sixth really... Joe Kinnear commented on Saturday "I won't stop [Andrew Fotiadis] going [on loan] because I've got another iron in the fire at another club for a much better striker. A prolific striker." He then said something about nicking the best player of a club in liquidation but frankly that would suggest anoyone else in the squad rather than Ward.

Tuesday 04 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Gibb going all Geoffrey

Gordon Gibb is contiuing the City tradition of a chairman seething. Russell Slade, who was to be City's new youth team boss until he decided to stay at Scarbrough, is the targeted of Gibb's justified wrath with the young Bantam chief annoyed that after agreeing terms to take over the role at Valley Parade Slade changed his mind and did not inform Valley Parade. Gibb seethed "He didn't even have the good grace to ring. He spoke to the papers and should have been man enough to give me a call. He rang me at midday on Sunday and everything was hunky dory. He was going to come over yesterday and sign his contract. There was no indication that he would change his mind. We had a couple of very productive conversations regarding Bradford and what we had in mind with the club's youth policy. We had sorted out the personal terms and Russell had got everything he asked for. I can't for the life of me understand why this has happened."

Gibb continued "When you get to the point of agreeing contracts and something changes then it's unprofessional not to let the other person know. That is the real frustration. I have wasted my time rushing over to Scarborough for meetings with people who are pretending they are interested in the job offer."

Gibb concluded "What is so surprising is that it was Russell who intimated to us that he wanted to get back into the Football League. It wasn't us that went to poach him, he approached us and we went through all the proper channels but in a way I'm glad we found out now that he was obviously not the right man for the job before it was too late. We are a bunch of decent people at Bradford. We treat people with respect and we expect those joining our team to be the same."

It's not VPPC (That's Valley Parade Politically Correct- Ed) to praise the former chairman Geoffrey Richmond but one of the things I liked most about GR was the way that he would not allow the club to used in ways like Russell Slade has done. Slade has obviously used the offer from City to get leaverage in his own negotiations with his chairman wasting City's time in the process. Gibb's fury is reminicent of Richmond's anger at the likes of David Mellor, Terry Fisher and Matthew Dunn. While Richmond's faults are detailed elsewhere one thing he did do for City was to come out slugging like a heavyweight in any war of words involving the club. Gibb looks set to continue that tradition, good luck to him.

Reserves off tonight

Those looking for a chance to see if Danny Forrest will have been relegated by to the second string must wait an extra day after City's reserve game with Manchester City has been put back for 24 hours owing to the ice around Bradford.

Monday 03 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Slade knocks back City

Russell Slade will no tbe joining City as Youth Team Coach. He will keep his job as Scarborough manager while City continue the search for a coach.

Royle to appeal Hreidarsson's sending off

As expected Joe Royle will appeal the sending off of Herman Hreidarsson during Ipswich's 2-0 loss at City with the blues boss suggesting that the Icelander did not mean to floor the 17 year old. Nicky Law said of the red card "There was an incident earlier when you could hear the slap from the halfway line. I'm not saying it was deliberate but the referee spoke to him. I don't really think there was a lot of argument for the second one. He clearly caught young Simon in the face and whether there was intent or not that was obviously how the referee saw it."

Who does Nicky mean?

Nicky Law has paid tribute to five in five man Claus Jorgensen saying "Claus has worked ever so hard to get into the team and has probably proved a few people wrong. He has improved and worked on certain aspects of his game and on that form he will stay in for a fair bit." Law is right that Jorgi has worked had but one has to suggest that the "few people proved wrong" would include the City boss himself and pretty much exclude the entirety of City fans who have taken the hard working Dane to heart.

Sticks, Jagger, Millsy, Blakey, Stuart, Deano, Beni, Fozzie

Danny Forrest is contemplating life in the limelight, for a while at least, following his debut goal on Saturday. Forrest said "It's still not sunk in. I've always dreamed of something like this happening since I was a kid on the Kop. I used to be up there behind the goal cheering on my heroes. When I was young it was Ian Ormondroyd and Paul Jewell, then Lee Mills, Robbie Blake and Stuart McCall, as well as Dean Windass and Beni Carbone. I've had so many City heroes and now I can't believe that I'm actually out there and scoring in front of the same fans I used to sit next to."

Forrest had five good chances in the game including one that was cleared off of the line by the evil Hreidarsson, not that that got the 18 year old down "At one point I thought I was never going to stick one away. The chances kept coming and when I found myself in those positions maybe I just got a little bit nervous but I kept going and going and never let my head drop. I wasn't going to start feeling sorry for myself."

Nicky Law, who would have fielded Adrian Littlejohn if he could have, said of Fozzie "Danny's a tough lad who's got pace and puts himself about. His link-up play was excellent and he could have had three, possibly four goals, although it was a great finish."

Sunday 02 February, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

The local boy in the photograph

Forrest scores on debut as City beat Ipswich 2-0 at Valley Parade

18 year old Danny Forrest took the headlines with a goal on his league debut at Valley Parade as City swept aside in form Ipswich Town 2-0 at Valley Parade. Quietly Claus Jorgensen nabbed his fifth goal in five league games.

Forrest on the goal

The man who has made the City forget the name Gareth Gate, Danny Forrest, has spoken about the goal that propelled him to the status of Bradford's newest teenage sensation. Forrest said "I knew I was in the squad on Friday afternoon when we came back from training but didn't find out until a quarter to two on the day of the game when we were in the dressing room and the Manager read the team out. I am glad actually that I didn't know I was playing on Friday. At least I didn't get early nerves and was able to get a good night's sleep. I was obviously a bit nervous before kick off but once the game started I got on with the job in hand and enjoyed every minute of it. I missed a few chances early on but the rest of the team kept me going and kept my head up."

"Then when the goal finally came that was it! All I can remember is dashing to the touchline behind the Carlsberg Stand goal where my brother always sit. It was unbelievable. I still can't believe it now! But I have to keep my feet firmly on the ground. I was given the opportunity through suspensions and injury to other players and there is every chance I will be back in the Reserves and Youth team next week so I will relish the moment while I can."

Nicky Law quickly dodged the idea that had he got his was Adrian Littlejohn would have been playing saying "It was an ideal opportunity for him and he made the most of it. He runs the channels well, he is a tough lad, he has got pace and his link-up play was excellent. He could have had three or possibly four goals, but at least he was there to miss and that is what a good goalscorer is all about. The goal he scored was a great finish and I am really pleased for him. He hasn't let anyone down."

City to nick Scarborough boss

Scarborough manager Russell Slade, who resigned from Boro in January before changing his mind and staying, is about to become City's youth team manager. Slade has cleared out his office and been thanks for his time by his chairman. Slade has a track record in youth football. The Boro bosses joining City will allow Chris Dowhan so continue filling the role of first team coach which although technically not vacated by Ian Banks when he was "released for financial reasons" will allow Chris Dowhan so continue filling the role of first team coach which was vacated when Banks was sacked.

Combe back between the sticks

Ian McCall, the new Dundee United boss, has made his first start move by putting Alam Combe in net and paying the money to Combe's previous club. Dundee United beat Motherwell 2-1 to move off the foot of the SPL with City's loanee Andy Tod scoring.

Meanwhile Gordon Gibb has gone out on a limb to declare that Alan Combe is City's main target in the summer "The Combe situation is on-going. Alan has made it perfectly obvious Bradford is his club of choice. He still has a lot of fans down here and has given us a clear 'come and get me' plea. But we feel the best time to do that is in the summer when he is out of contract. Dundee United have two exceptionally good keepers of Scottish Premier League standard at the club, Alan and Paul Gallacher. They rate them absolutely equally which means that although the other chap is in the team, if he slips up or gets injured then it's felt Alan would come in and make the position his own."

Proctor looking at City return

Michael Proctor went a long way towards making sure he would be at Valley Parade at least once next season. His two own goals helped Sunderland to a 3-1 defeat that leave the bottom of the Premiership.

Friday 31 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law goes for youth as Littlejohn turns down move

Adrian Littlejohn has turned down the chance to join City, obviously had plans to go to Meadowhall this weekend or put up some tasteful Ikea shelving perhaps, leaving Nicky Law to build an attack out of Ashley Ward and the clubs youngsters.

When Law tried to sign 32 year old Littlejohn we were unimpressed at BfB and suggested that City's manager should give the kids a chance. After all if the future of tis club is about bringing through our own talent it seems crazy to field a non contract player while leaving the kids out.

Danny Forrest, who made his debut agianst Wrexham in the League cup, is favourite to get closest to the action. He is joined in the senior squad by Kevin Sanasy and Daniel Ekoku of family Ekoku that gave us of Efan and Abi.

Craig Fishlock could also make his debut for City while Lewis Emanuel, who was reported to be out long term, seems to have crept into Law's match day squad. For the record Daniel Ekoku is City's highest numbered player taking the first Bantam 40 shirt. Sanasy gets 39.

Out of adminisration

The High Court have lifted the Administration Order that City went under last May. Reports that said order had the words Bradford City tippexed out and the name of anothe West Yorkshire side written in are, of course, a big fat lie.

City sign new keeper

Nicky Law has acted quickly to replace injured Nicky Beach as bench sitting keeper for the Bantams by signing unknown Dane Stefan Magnusson. Magnusson was released by FC Farum at the end of last season and his joined the Bantams until the end of the season. The Danes international clearance has come through meaning that he will start his Bantam career on the bench against Ipswich. Magnusson takes the 30 shirt previously worn by Danny Taylor, Simon Grayson and the evil David Hopkin.

Less on Jamie

City are closed mouthed on why Jamie Lawrence suffered a triple fracture of his cheekbone. All that is known that it was on Saturday night in Leeds after the win over Grimsby. Nicky Law typified the secrecy over the situation say "Jamie sustained that injury away from the football club but I can't go into it further than that."

Without giving away the big secret Law did say "Jamie's got a triple fracture of the cheekbone. He's been to see the specialist and his opinion is that Jamie isn't fit to train or play. He will go back in a week's time when the specialist will re-assess it and decide if he will need an operation. If he does, and the bone needs plating, it will be a six to eight-week job.

Cadamarteri on his injury

Danny Cadamarteri has spoken about his injury saying "I am taking it day by day. Some mornings it's fine but on others the knee can be a bit sore and achy, although I don't know if that's down to the cold weather. I had a bit of a setback last week so it just felt good to get back playing on grass again and in a competitive match. It's coming on and getting a lot stronger. I'm still working on rehab in the Yorkshire Clinic so that's helped me. The specialist has already told me that after matches it's going to be a little bit sore for a few weeks if not for a bit longer. But as long as I don't have too much of a bad reaction it should be fine."

The month by month news index.