Thursday 31 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Paston to sign after featuring on team shot

City poised for the annual team picture minus injured Peter Atherton but with trialist goalkeeper Mark Paston making a fairly substantial hint that he will be signing for the club long term. Paston was flanked by Clint Davies, the keeper City are lending to Halifax Town all year. Danny Forrest was included despite the fact he is technically speaking still a junior at the club.

Dunfermline take Tod back

Andy Tod has returned to Dunfermline after his twenty months in English football.

Dunfermline boss Jimmy Calderwood grumped over his new signing saying "We knew his position at Bradford and, because of the problems we have at centre-half, we decided to bring him back. If we are defending a lead, he is a strong defender and also for trying to force a goal he is strong as well. If he played more than one game, they would have had to pay us and there was no way they were going to do that. Andy is a local lad and he was popular with our fans before and the move suits both parties."

Tod's time at Bradford City will always be associated with the end of the good times when the realisation that we would not be going back to the Premiership dawned. He was that last player City paid money for before Administration and at £100,000 plus was over priced, indeed his signing looked very much like a case of Jim Jefferies attempting to get another Scots player he know into the club.

Famously Tod was selected over Beni Carbone by Nicky Law following Jefferies departure but Law, like many City fans, finally lost patience with the Scot when his foolish hand ball gave away a win at Rotherham. Tod was playing for the injury hit Bantams last term when he reached a maximum number of games before invoking a further payment to Dunfermline and so it was decided that the player would not be considered part of the squad. Tod was freed by mutual consent in order to allow him to return North.

Sanasy hat-trick sees off Celtic

A mixed bag of City players beat Lee Sinnott's Farsley Celtic side 5-2 at Throstle Nest with a hat-trick for Kevin Sanasy and two goals from Luke Cornwall. Paul Stevenson and Amjad Iqbal replied for the home side.

Alan Combe, Frazer McHugh, Patrick Bannister and Paul Reid took to the field along with a collection of the club's youngsters.

Jorgi impresses for Cov

Claus Jorgensen "looked accomplished in possession and certainly tried to push forward whenever possible." in a trial game for Coventry City last night. Last time we checked the Sky Blues had less in the bank than the Bantams so how they are going to pay the Dane is anyone's guess but his appearance last night does seem to put an end to the rumours about his return to Valley Parade.

Wednesday 30 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Jorgi return talk in Bradford

What do you do with your summer Sundays if you are Claus Jorgensen? Spend them at Valley Parade watching City that's what. Jorgi's guest spot at VP last weekend has sparked all sort of talk that the Dane may return. Injuries to Lewis Emanuel and Peter Atherton have given a spot in the midfield for Jorgi to return, if only short term, although one did get the distinct impression that Nicky Law was not too sad to see the free scoring midfielder leave preferring a harder kind of midfielder.

At BfB we turn cartwheels at the prospect of a Jorgensen return but doubt that the wage demands that could not be accommodated four months ago can be now and frankly do not think that there is the will at Valley Parade to bring him back to the club.

Bantams showing Tyke sympathy

City's Shaun Harvey has explained why the club will leave it to the last minute to arrange another friendly for Saturday to give opponents Barnsley ample time to ensure there future before the game. Harvey said "As I have said before we want to help Barnsley as much as we can. We have been through the same nightmare ourselves. We will now speak with them tomorrow afternoon and hopefully the response will be favourable but obviously time is pressing. While they have managed to satisfy the criteria set out by the Football League, it has not been quite as easy with the Football Association. We wish them well tomorrow."

The gulf between the Premiership and the First

Deloitte & Touche put out the yearly state of football finance report today and of the many stats in it none is more illustrative of the problems that the likes of City, Derby, Ipswich et al have suffered than this: The average Premiership club has income more than four times that of a Division One counterpart.

Bradford & Bingley renew sponsorship deal

The good people at Bradford & Bingley plc are going to sponsor Valley Parade for three more years. Here at BfB we call the ground Valley Parade because, well that's what we have always called it and our code for BfBv5 works around the phrase but today, to recognise the backing that B&B are giving us, we are happy to say that we frequent The Bradford & Bingley Stadium.

Gordon Gibb underlined the commitment Bradford & Bingley have made to Bradford City saying "I would like to pay testament to the historical support that Bradford & Bingley has given the Club, especially when time have been difficult. It’s partnerships such as these that will stand us in good stead for the future and give us the best opportunity to take the Club to the next level."

A very personal, very important thing, a family motto. Here it is...

Gordon Gibb showed the money to the Bantams players who have signed up for low pay cheques by offering bumper bonuses for decent performances in the division and a cash windfall should City end up in the Premiership. Gibb said "The incentives are there for everyone to achieve great things this season and while we don't believe they will do it just for the money, we are sure the bonuses will them that extra push, We set our salary cap because we could not allow the club to slip back into the financially disastrous position it was in a year ago. To back that up, we are offering some of the most lucrative incentives in Division One."

BfB likes the cut of Gibb's financial jib just as we liked the similar bonus scheme when his predecessor Geoffrey Richmond offered it in the promotion season. As evidenced by his appearance on Who Really wants to be a Millionaire Gibb seems like a pleasant well rounded chap with common sense ideas of which rewarding those loyal enough to join the club on smaller salaries with big fat bonuses would seem to be one.

Tuesday 29 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Football Association garbage as City warned for bad dicipline

The Football Association have warned City that the club's disciplinary record has been poor and that the Bantams could be face a very unwelcome a severe financial penalty should it not improve. This makes BfB editor Michael Wood mad has he fumes in his article The FA, bad discipline and sending in the United States Marine Corp.

The word coming out of City is that Nicky Law thinks that there is an issue that needs addressing "Manager Nicky Law is determined to do something about our poor record, especially as most of the bookings were for silly fouls such as shirt tugging. He is making the players aware of it because it is not a good reputation to have. It is damaging for the team as players are suspended, but also for the club as a whole because we end up having to pay too many fines."

Monday 28 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Injuries shaping Norwich side

Nicky Law is look at having his backline for the game against Norwich selected by default after a series of injuries left him without the likes of Mark Bower, Wayne Jacobs and Peter Atherton. Bower, who became City's latest casualty after twisting ankle ligaments against Aberdeen yesterday, will be out for six weeks at least leaving new boy Jason Gavin to partner David Wetherall as two of the only three fit centrebacks at the club with Simon Francis employed at right back. Paul Heckingbottom impressed for the Bantams against Aberdeen and will get a place in the starting line up should Wayne Jacobs not recover and recover well in time.

Atherton's midfield absence opens the door for the return of Paul Evans to the Bantams midfield. Evans had a spirited tournament and combined well with Tom Kearney of whom the jury returned quickly to give a verdict of "Still great". Ben Muirhead's running did enough to get him into the side and if Dean Windass and Robert Wolleaston are to continue as the strike pairing then Andy Gray will have to stay in the midfield berth.

Ward off to Derby rumours continue

BfB understands that Ashley Ward will go into talks with Derby this week concerning a move to Pride Park although we know nothing of the deal that will take him away from Valley Parade.

However should Ward leave the Bantams before the start of the season one has to wonder what will happen to the sum of just under £1m which will be saved on his wage, specifically if it will be returned to the player salary and transfer fees fund.

Paston in demand

Nicky Law has been impressed with keeper Mark Paston and doubts City can keep him while offering him the back up job to Alan Combe. Said Law "We were hoping to sort something with him but I believe Mark's off somewhere else next week. We've not given up but I need to speak to him to see what we can do. He's going to be in demand on that performance."

Sunday 27 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bower out after Aberdeen take Tournament on penalties

Mark Bower has been ruled out for several months after damaging knee ligaments during City's 0-0 draw with Aberdeen in the final of the Centenary Tournament. The Scots won the game 5-4 on penalties but Bantams were left annoyed at a series of bad tackles and elements of sportsmanship that went unpunished by the Referee something that Roland Harris gets all upset about in his column A ridiculous kicking for our birthday.

The game provided City with a fine work out before the new season with some of the play by Don's number six as cynical as any you will find in two weeks time when the season begins in earnest and one body check by Aberdeen trialist Haikkenen on Ben Muirhead that defied belief considering the nature of the game. Nevertheless the Bantams had the best of the game and should have won with Dean Windass and Robert Wolleaston being unlucky form a number of good chances.

Earlier in the day Swansea beat Coleraine 4-1 to take third place.

Saturday 26 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Windass hat-trick gives City win

Dean Windass started the Bradford City Centenary Tournament off with a hat trick in the Bantams easy 4-2 win over Coleraine. Alan Combe was rarely troubled by the Irishmen who face Swansea tomorrow following the Welsh side's 2-0 loss to Aberdeen.

The Windass three came after Coleraine had taken a surprise lead, surprising themselves it would seem, over City from a fumbled first half corner against the run of general Bantam pressure. The returning Windass levelled before half time from a fine left footed Simon Francis cross.

Francis has only been on the field for a short time, he replaced Peter Atherton who worryingly went off with a knee problem that will keep him out for three months, but the young England centreback looked assured and confident.

Windass grabbed a second after good work by Robert Wolleaston and then City's 10 turned provider for Andy Gray to slot home before claiming the match ball moments later. Former City man Michael McHugh pulled one back after the Bantams were reduced to ten men with Wayne Jacobs limping off.

It's good to be back: BfB thoughts on the returning players...
Law less than pleased with Irish rough stuff

Nicky Law seemed less than happy with some of the rural play of the Coleraine side that injured Peter Atherton, Wayne Jacobs and Dean Windass. Speaking out the Atherton injury Law said "It's a disaster for Peter. The flap that attaches the tendon has come away and that could be a two-month job to fix it. You wouldn't mind it quite as much as if it was his own fault but Ben Muirhead sold him short and as Pete came in to hit it, the Coleraine lad caught him. We will have to wait and see how it goes but I wasn't planning on making too many changes on Sunday but with the injuries it could now be a case of not making them worse."

Coleraine did seem physical and in a league game would no doubt have had players booked but the quote spirit unquote of the day prevented it. Quiet where that spirit was when a ten man City had Simon Francis pole axed to become nine men before the second Irish goal is anyone's guess.

Friday 25 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Roland Harris bitching friendlies

Law on Scots tour and new lads

Continuing the theme pre-season games: worthless Nicky Law revealed that he was not that bothered about the two defeats in Scotland on the tour being more concerned about gelling his team together. Said Law "The Scottish tour was valuable because we looked on it as a training exercise, we spent five days in each others' pockets and when you've got as many new signings as we have I think it's important to do that. The results weren't important because I was trying things out and chopping and changing the team all the time."

Law continued "[This weekend's games are] another opportunity for the lads to blend, There are a lot of new faces there and it's important they spend as much time together on the pitch as possible. It's another two games in which we can try things out before the Norwich game. That's the big one and that's what all of this builds towards."

Expanding on BfB's favourite pub time talk, that all footballers are basically kids away from home. Law underlined "You've got to remember that a lad like Robert Wolleaston has been at Chelsea for 10 or 12 years before coming up here this summer. It's a massive change and it's bound to take a while before he feels fully settled in."

Friendly games pre-season: What a load of tosh

After having to call off friendlies Barnsley have confirmed to City that they are are now "confident that the game will go ahead" at Oakwell on Saturday 2 August leaving the many tens of City fans who will take a day out to South Yorkshire satisfied that the game will go ahead.

City fans will sympathy with Barnsley, it's only 12 months since Johnny Telford Manager was accusing the Bantams of a conspiracy to get out of playing his side and we all remember the player's strike against Hull. Fingers crossed the Tykes will get over the problems.

Getting over the problem of pre-season friendlies is another matter. A gigantic waste of time, money and effort I have long since stopped going to these games which tell you very little about the team or the players asa they coast around not wanting to get injured. They are football's dress rehearsals and how many times do people go to the Alhambra to watch dress rehearsals?

Players that like men

Fresh from signing Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi Italian side Perugia are looking at turning football on it's head/doing anything for a bit of publicity by trying to field a mixed sex team.

Perugia president Luciano Gaucci, whos media conciseness would bring some to call him Italy's answer to Geoffrey Richmond, has declared "Within six months we'll have a woman playing in Perugia's red strip."

Gaucci, oblivious to Eoin Jess who certainly played like a big girl, continued "I'm convinced that Perugia can become the first club on the planet to play a woman with men in the first division."

Gaucci's get around is that the rules of football only make mention of forbidding women's sides to field men and not the other way around and logic would suggest that if a game can match Andy Morrison next to Steve McManaman then it is capable of being played by people from a broad physical spectrum.

Specific football associations are allowed to add amendments to FIFA rules as the FA have on mixed teams over 12 years of age preventing anyone in England from capturing budding Karen Walkers but Gaucci idea is interesting to say the least if only because the man's subtle as a hammer style does on occasion bring results. Gaucci's Perugia brought the first Japanese player to a major European league with Hidetoshi Nakata earning millions for the club in revenue and eventually a transfer fee but they famously sacked Ahn Jung-Hwan for knocking Italy out of the World Cup.

Japanese guy, Gaddafi and women: Five more Perugia headline grabbers we predict for next season

Thursday 24 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Gus trying out at Chesterfield

Gus Ulhenbeek is on trial at Chesterfield. The right back turned down a new contract at City and had previously spent time with third division Huddersfield Town.

Tell Watford what you think

Watford website Blind, Stupid and Desperate are doing their annual survey of Division One supporters. BfB has taken part, so can you.

Wednesday 23 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

City seek planning permission for £4m football academy

Contract Journal, the weekly magazine on all things construction, notes that Bradford City have applied for planning permission for a football academy which would include sports hall, practise pitches, gym, changing rooms, physio facilities, offices, kitchen and lounge.

The project, which will be built by architect JH Langtry-Langton Partnership of Manningham, will be based on the Eurocom Technology Park on off Mayo Avenue Chase Way at the top of the M606 providing the Bantams with a base near the motorway. FA rules restrict young players from travelling over 90 minutes to get to academies making such a location ideal for City should the club continue to cast the recruitment net wide.

A part of City's planning application is for leisure and social facilities which one can only assume means that City will be looking at getting back some of the £4m the project will cost through hiring out training pitches. There is also suggestion that the club might divers themselves of the Appley Bridge training facilities which if ownership of what is nice real estate permits, could net the Bantams a tidy sum.

Evans back in action for City

In last night's game with Raith Rovers Paul Evans played his first game for City since the five nil drubbing by Sheffield United following the scrap with Wayne Jacobs at Sheffield Wednesday left him exiled at Blackpool and declared himself refreshed. Evans said "Hopefully this is a clean slate for me. I had a couple of decent tackles, although one near the end I think was a little bit too risky at this stage, but the knee held up fine. I haven't been in the dressing room for so long that I feel like a new player. I've spoken to the gaffer and now it's up to me to give him that selection headache."

Ward move back on?

The word around Derby is that the Rams have reignited their interest in signing City's Ashley Ward.

Tuesday 22 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams lose at Raith

City bested 2-0 by Scots

Bradford City's second game of the Scots tour ended in defeat with ethe home side getting two second half goals.

Keepers Davies, O'Malley signed

Nicky Law have signed Birmingham's 20 year old keeper Clint Davies on a two-year contract and then loaning the player out to Halifax Town for a year for first team experience.

Meanwhile Aaron O'Malley, the keeper who's shoot out saves won City the Hamm Tournement last month, has joined as a third year scholar.

Tight in Wetherall on relegation and the pundits

David Wetherall has made the right noises about the bookies predicting City will be relegated saying "It seems a bit short-sighted for the bookies to have us as one of the relegation favourites. You go through the team player by player and we've certainly got the makings of a strong side but it doesn't bother me people writing us off, and that goes for the rest of the club as well. I spoke to the chairman about it and we weren't upset - it just gives you that extra determination to go and prove everyone wrong once again." Wetherall played every game in the 1999-2000 Premiership season in which City, who escaped relegation thanks to Wetherall's header, were described as a league alone at the bottom. That season Geoffrey Richmond's son Michael described Wetherall as the reason the Bantams stayed in the top flight. Wetherall seems to be enjoying a similarly good relationship with the current boardroom.

Commenting on the changed atmosphere at the club City's skipper said "It is so different to this time last year and now we are able to focus on just the football, which is what we are paid to do. And I can say that we are pretty confident that we won't finish bottom, whatever the bookies might think. I think Wimbledon will definitely struggle as they are losing all their best players, and Crewe will also find it tough, otherwise it's difficult to tell what's going to happen. The first objective like last season is to get to 50 points and then we will worry about going further after that. The key is to start the season firing."

Monday 21 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Walsh set for Wigan

Paul Jewell is reported to be ready to offer Gary Walsh a two year contract at Wigan Athletic.

Cornwall on breaking the Law, Law on the breaking Cornwall

Luke Cornwall scored what will hopefully be the first of many for City in Saturday's defeat to Partick Thistle after controlling Andy Gray's flick on with his hand, not that the player expected the goal to stand saying "I didn't think he would give it but that's how it goes some times. I went to chest the ball but it came low so it just touched my hand it dropped nicely into my path and I just hit it. I expected to hear a whistle but just made sure it went in first but it's good for my confidence to get off the mark and hopefully it will continue. It's going to take me a bit longer to get the edge I want to my game but I can only get better and stronger the more I play. We're starting to get to know how everyone plays and I was linking up with Andy Gray with some one-twos coming off. The manager has been mixing it up and using different players and hopefully we can start to mould as a team."

The optimistic Cornwall is illustrative of a general mood in the Bantams camp. Nicky Law certainly seems pleased with the team and Cornwall in particular saying "That's two in two he's got now if you count the one against Barnsley. Luke looks very mobile and nimble, he's got a good touch and he's shown an eye for goal."

Paston to be offered a deal

City are to offer trialist New Zealander goalkeeper Mark Paston a contract after the giant stopper impressed Nicky Law over the past two weeks. Law said of the man he wants to back up Alan Combe "I thought Mark did very well indeed, he came for crosses and made a couple of good saves and looked commanding. I don't think there was a great deal he could have done with any of the goals. We're going to have to make a decision after this and hopefully we may be able to do something with him. He wants his chance over here, he's come in and taken it."

Paston is praising his luck at finding a club in England saying "Everything has gone right for me in the last few months and I'm just hoping it works out for me here. I'd love to join Bradford but we'll have to see what the gaffer has to say over the next few days. My aim has always been to cover over here and play professional football and I'm enjoying my time at the club. It's always tough coming to a different country on trial but the players are a good bunch of guys and they've made it fairly easy for me."

One point of note that we at BfB make is that if City are to sign up Paston, who represented his country in the summer, then we will need a third keeper, probably associated with the juniors or a on the staff as a coach, who can fill in on the bench when the New Zealander is off on international duty.

Saturday 19 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Kevin Collier

City lose to Jags

Partick Thistle 4 Bradford City 2

Bradford City lost 4-2 to Partick Thistle. Luke Cornwall scored for City in the first half only to have his goal equalised by Andy Thomson. Simon Francis got one at the start of the second half to restore City's advantage but Thomson sqaured it up again before Andy Ross gave the home side the lead and Gerry Briton added to that advantage.

Law looking back at Gus and Claus

Speaking after his summer of signings Nicky Law has looked back at the players leaving the club with a wry comment "As it's panned out, there are a lot of people who will be thinking that it is not as easy to find a new club as they thought it would be. They'll be panicking even more in another month's time. Come the start of the season there may still be the odd quality player out there we might be able to drop on."

Checking out what our exs are doing
Law on target setting

Much talk around Bradford City message boards about what Bantams fans should expect from the side next term, something that Nicky Law will addressing for the squad and for each member of that squad. Of his fifty percent new charges Law said "We're going to sit down over the next couple of weeks individually and collectively and see what they want to achieve. Chris Dowhan and I want to know where they see themselves this season and find out what realistic targets they should set. Are we just going to say survival is success or should we go a little step further? You've got to push yourself all the time. This time last year we were in turmoil but we're on a much steadier footing now. We've been able to bring in players, different types who have all got something to prove."

At BfB we must confess that we like Law's talk of realistic targets. Having never seen Luke Cornwall play I have only his word for it that he is the new Andy Cole, a situation that is common throughout the squad. Put simply it's hard to make predictions about this side because most of it we have never seen. It's a team with good touchstones: David Wetherall, Dean Windass, Alan Combe et al, but that solid base needs to be augmented by displays from the new guys.

Friday 18 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Modernising views of Geoffrey Richmond

BfB editor Michael Wood has been working hard on the new version of this website stopping only to reflect on the state of Bradford City since the website began. Read his thoughts in On XML and modernising my view of Geoffrey Richmond.

Bantams go North

City have started the trip to Scotland taking along trialists Mark Paston from New Zealand and Joey Hutchinson from Birmingham City. Danny Forrest has also gone despite being technically a scholar who could be playing with the kids at Chesterfield today.

City bid too Low

Bradford City's reported £50,000 bid for Oldham's Josh Low looks set to flounder after the Latics rejected a higher bid of £75,000 from Northampton for the winger.

Thursday 17 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood, hard at work

Old boys moving

Three City old boys are moving on. Aidan Davison has forgone Florida for Grimsby, Lee Duxbury has signed for Bury and Gordon Watson looks like he will be joining his old club Sheffield Wednesday.

Paston joins City on tour

Mark Paston will join City on the pre-season tour of Scotland. The six foot five keeper has impressed in the two closed door games he has played and should he not mind sitting out the start of the season waiting for Alan Combe to err or injure there is no reason why he could not be the very type of person Nicky Law will contact vis-à-vis goalkeeping stardom.

Filming starts at Valley Parade

Filming on YTV drama Gifted started at Valley Parade allowing BfB to indulge in...

The four top things filmed at VP which were not football matches...
  1. Monty Python's Flying Circus
    John Cleese watching a man play football on his own on the Valley Parade pitch.
  2. Damon & Debbie
    Brookie soap bubble that featured Gillian Kearney, sister of City midfielder Tom. Remember when Damon got stabbed at the end? Rubbish wasn't it.
  3. The World of Eddie Weary
    Bradford based 'tech show. Not that good but did feature Celia Imre who went on to be in The Phantom Menace.
  4. ID
    Eighties set footie thug drama that used the VP Kop for one scene. Not to be confused with James Mangold's excellent Identity.
Make your own Bantams

Are you one of those people that really gets sick of playing computer football games that do not give the City players the abilities that you think they should have? Tired of his master Alan Biggins and his (excellent) work on Championship Manager 4? Fear not then. BfB has been asked by those good eggs at Codemasters to rate the Bantams for the latest version of their footie manager game and cause we are snowed under with other work we do not have time to give the project the attention we should.

If you do then mail BfB and we will send you the excel spreadsheet for you to fill in and return.

Fame, fortune and a mention on BfB for those who step up to this challenge.

Jorgi getting frustrated

Claus Jorgensen is still without a club but is hoping to get something set up before the start of the season. Jorgi, who left City after being a rectangular peg in one of Nicky Law's square holes, said "Not that much has happened in the transfer market during the summer break, it might take another two weeks before something happens, I have had contacts with some clubs in the first division, but there are many of them who are waiting for changes in the transfer market. Due to the poor finances, they can choose the salaries, because there are many players to choose from. It is a bit difficult, because you are the only one who knows that you are good enough. It is stressful to keep waiting in the long term. You would like to get started to train for football again, but it is also now that you need to have patience. Therefore, I try to take it easy. But it is not the most exciting situation."

For a player of not little ability Claus seems to have a rough time of it. He was unwanted by Jim Jefferies and had to force his way into Nicky Law's plans by scoring in every game he played nevertheless he seems to struggle to get the recognition his play deserved. At BfB we admit to being huge Jorgi fans and we do not want to believe a word against him but if it was another player that two managers are unsure of and no one wants after a season of so many goals from midfield we would suggest that the problem lay with the player and his attitude.

Young Bantams beat Eccleshill United

City's team of youngsters beat Eccleshill United 3-0 to the delight of one Bobby Davison, former Leeds United centreforward who has been working at City on a non-contract basis for a while now and seems to have stepped forward as the new youth team boss. Liam Flynn scored City's first and Kevin Sanasy got the other two.

The afroementioned Mr Davison, whom it is hard to like following his goal against a salmon jumping PAul Tomlinson in the late eighties at Valley Parade, said of the game "It was a good workout for the lads. They have worked hard in the last few weeks in pre-season training and Eccleshill provided us with a good game played in fine competitive spirit. There are many good points from the game and the lads can only get better in the next few weeks when we have more warm-up games before the season starts in August."

Folkes on trial

The the 3-0 win over Eccleshill United City fielded 18 year old centralback Peter Folkes who has joined City on trial having been released by Bristol City. One has to wonder if CIty are getting a reputation in youth football as being prepared to offer chances to lads released by other clubs. A player like Folkes must look at Simon Francis, who this time last year was on his way out of Notts County, with a dreamy awe.

The Bantams gave a second chance to Francis and word would seem to be out that they will do it again hence lads from Bristol turning up in West Yorkshire looking for a team which, for whatever reason, has been reborn in the spirit of youth development.

Wednesday 16 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams draw with Barnsley in closed doors game

Dean Windass and Luke Cornwall were on target for City as the Bantams drew 2-2 with Barnsley in a behind closed doors friendly in South Yorkshire. Steve Hayward and Kevin Betsy scored for the home side.

City to spend again?

Nicky Law is enjoying his transfer budget that seems to have appeared and is poised to spend money on Oldham midfielder Josh Low who is available from the even more cash strapped Latics for £50,000.

Low is primarily a midfielder but can play at right back or up front. He has previously played for Cardiff City who have a 30% sell on clause which Sam Harman would have to be very mean to active given Oldham's current plight.

Cadamarteri sleeping

Danny Cadamarteri hopes to be fit for September after knee surgery that will keep him out of the City side. Bantams fans who missed his debut have yet to see the best fo Danny Cadamarteri and frankly Danny fit enough to play and Danny fit have been two different things in the past but if the former Everton can get in shape for September he will have to hope that the army of other strikers are all misfiring to give him a place in the team.

Junior Bantams face Eccleshill United

We all like the City kids - skilful Tom Penford, optimistic Kevin Sanasy, the outrageously good Daniel Ekoku et al - so we will be going to see the young City side take on Eccleshill United at Plumpton Park on Wednesday evening at 19:00. I'm sure we will see you there.

Gibb wants to prove them wrong

Gordon Gibb is looking forward to his second season as a football chairman saying "Last season was always going to be something of a consolidatory campaign for us after the trauma of going through administration, now we are looking to build on that and I believe we have the ideal mix of youth and experience in the squad to prove more than a few people wrong this season."

City have been widely tipped to be relegated this season. What does BfB think of these predictions? We do not think predictions are worth much. We remember what the BBC tipping the team of Jim Jefferies and Eoin Jess for an instant return...

Tuesday 15 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Kearney keen after comeback

City's comeback kid Tom Kearney broke from his usual calm approach to enthuse about his return to football saying "It just felt great to be playing football again. I've been waiting for so long for this chance and now I can really look ahead again. There were no worries with the knee and I didn't it feel it once. I did a few block tackles and felt very confident. Fingers crossed it's all behind me and now I can have a good pre-season. I kept myself ticking over during the summer and I don't feel that I'm too far behind the rest of the lads fitness-wise. Hopefully I can have a good run in the team now."

Danny and Lewis miss Scotland

Danny Cadamarteri and Lewis Emanuel will miss the tour of Scotland after heading off for rehabilitation.

City vs Barnsley on Wednesday

City will play Barnsley behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Westwood to Northampton

Ashley Westwood has joined John Fashanu's ambitious Northampton Town. Gary Walsh is touring with Paul Jewell's Wigan and Aidan Davison is trying to choose between living in Grimsby or Florida, personally, having done one and not the other, I know which one I would pick.

That Mellor woman

A TV show called Gifted will be filmed at Valley Parade soon. Gifted is written by Kay Mellor who BfB dislikes owing to the fact that she once had a movie script made in preference to one of ours when we were in the last two on a desk situation. However, Gifted does feature Claire Goose whom Roland Harris finds more than a little attractive.

Monday 14 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Kearney back in action but Bantams lose

City have lost a closed doors friendly with Bolton Wanderers 2-0 with Tom Kearney winning the plaudits in his first game since the injury that kept him out of the game for nine months. Nicky Law was pleased with City enjoying "the vast majority of the possession".

Interestingly supposedly Chelsea bound Jay-Jay Okocha was the only Bolton first teamer not to feature.

Bantams kick off with private party

City play Bolton Wanderers behind closed doors today as Nicky Law kicks off what many are calling his make or break season at Valley Parade after his busy summer of recruitment. Law is considering adding goalkeeper Mark Paston to his senior squad after seeing the stopper in training. The City boss said of the Napier City Rovers keeper "Mark does look the part, he is a fantastic athlete with a great temperament. He's 6ft 5in, kicks it well and comes for crosses but obviously we need to look at him in games. You need to see how he responds to being out there when the ball is flying and you've got to stop it going in the net. So we're going to watch him in the game today and then again on Wednesday. As we stand now, the signs are very, very good."

The Bantams are also giving games this week to Joey Hutchinson of Birmingham City and Scott Cousins who has been with Chelsea and has come to the attention in the club while scooping out Robert Wolleaston.

False economy

BfB is not getting too upset about the club selling the right to sit in on the team photo for 2003-2004 but the whole thing leaves a bad taste in the mouth and without wanting to be too negative I would certainly not want a picture of some guy who bit £500 to sit next to Nicky Law on the wall of my suburban semi.

Sunday 13 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Wolleaston on where he plays

Robert Wolleaston has cleared up the "is he another striker question saying "I am much more of a midfield player so having a lot of strikers won't bother me. I like playing up front but I can't finish."

Speaking about why he opted to leave Chelsea for City Wolleaston said "People kept telling me that next year was going to be the big season for me when I would break through - but next year never came. Sooner or later you realise it is time to move on. Gianluca Vialli gave me a couple of games in the First Team and I travelled all the time with the squad under Ruud Gullit. But as soon as Claudio Ranieri came in, it didn't happen for me. There were so many big stars there and it was good to train alongside them because you learned a lot. But with all these top players to choose from it was always going to be difficult."

Wolleaston is being tipped to fill a left sided midfield role in the place of Claus Jorgensen tucking in on the left to provide a tight three man midfield supporting a flying right winger, such as Ben Muirhead, in Nicky Law's 442 formation.

Forrest on the old guys

Danny Forrest is looking to Dean Windass to help him improve his game. Forrest, who used to watch Windass from the stands in the Premiership, said of the current squad "It's nice to have more young faces about. But it is good for all of us younger players to have the likes of David Wetherall and Wayne Jacobs about in the team. They have been in the game for ten to twelve years and if you can't learn off them, you can't learn off anybody. They discuss things and check on how you are doing which is a massive help. Hopefully I can improve and bring a bit more into my game to vary it a bit. I want to get a few more games under my belt. There have been a lot of changes but if we can all gel together in the pre-season friendlies then by the start of the season we will have a good little squad."

At BfB we are big Danny Forrest fans and think he will go far but we are glad that City are not going into next season with all striking hopes on the shoulders of a kid. If Ashley Ward, Dean Windass and Andy Gray are the three forwards going into the new campaign BfB will not complain.

Saturday 12 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

One keeper to conclude signings

Nicky Law will conclude his signings for the Bradford City senior side by signing a new keeper with the club planning to have only two senior shot stoppers on the books next year. Kiwi International Mark Paston is on trial at the club but thought likely to go elsewhere after Alan Combe was promised the starting shirt. Aaron O'Malley is to sign as the juniors new keeper and would be drafted onto the bench in emergency situations.

City's third keeper's shirt that has been worn by Mark Prudhoe and Aidan Davison has been given to new defender Jason Gavin.

Reality bites for Myers

Andy Myers new deal at Colchester United is reported to be worth just 12% of what the defender was on at City. Meanwhile it is reported that Gus Ulhenbek, who turned down City's offer of £1,500 a week for next season, is on trial at lowly Huddersfield Town.

Friday 11 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Robert Wood

Law on Gavin, Jason on Bradford

Nicky Law is pleased with his new signing Jason Gavin, his third choice after talking with Steve Vickers and Ludovic Pollet, saying "We're looking for players with the right pedigree and Jason has the calibre to come in and make us better. While Terry Venables was there he played all the games for Middlesbrough before he had a bit of a fall-out with Steve McClaren but he is a player we have been aware of, I've seen him in reserve games and he also had league experience last year on loan with Grimsby and Huddersfield."

Gavin on the other hand seem glad to be back within site of first team football saying "I didn't have the opportunity at Middles-brough last year so I'm happy to get away and make a fresh start and get noticed again. I've played more or less every level for Ireland and was on the bench for the senior team when I was playing regularly for Middlesbrough. But in the last year I haven't done that at all so that's probably why I've not been picked. There's always that chance again if I do well here, although first and foremost my aim is to do a good job for Bradford. Anything else would be a bonus."

Gavin concluded with this gem "It can't get any worse than last year for me. I went to Huddersfield."

Law's signing of Jason Gavin gives him the option of playing the 352 formation he fiddled around with at the end of last season without having to move Peter Atherton out of the midfield or Simon Francis from right back.

Francis called up

Simon Francis has been called up for England u19 for the friendly Poland in Warsaw on 20 August, 2003.

The price of business

City have signed Jason Gavin for a "small fee". If what John Mackenzie has been saying this week is to be believed can we assume that it is around £5m?

Thursday 10 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Roland Harris

Gavin makes ten as City splash the cash

Nicky Law has made his tenth signing of the summer bringing in Middlesbrough's Jason Gavin with the BBC reporting that City have paid a small fee for the player. Dublin born defender Gavin is a Republic of Ireland u21 international centreback and has played in the Premiership for Steve MacLaren's side.

If City have paid money for the player it will be the club's first cash signing since Andy Tod cost the club £100,000 and the first time since the CVA of last summer that a transfer fee, no matter how small, has been paid.

Gavin spent two months on loan at lowly Huddersfield Town last season with then boss Mick Wadsworth saying of the player "He is an excellent defender and has real qualities that will benefit our situation. He is only 22, but has a wealth of experience that will be valuable to our predominantly young squad." Gavin was also been farmed out to Grimsby Town in his time at the Riverside.

New look for City site, same old problems

The Bradford City site has gone over a cosmetic overhaul and looks all the better for it. However the site is still is not written in valid HTML or XHTML and it still totally ignores web standards.

Not that any of this is the fault of Bradford City who are tied in to a deal with Premium TV for web site services but it does make you wonder why how come a company of that size can not scrape together £17.50 to buy a copy of Zeldman's book and at least start looking into the possibility of making a site that works properly.

Official: Ward is great

With the prospects of him leaving faded an Ashley Ward charm offensive has begun from Valley Parade with the man himself talking about his injury situation saying "It's been very difficult picking up one injury after another, especially when they are freak ones like broken ribs which you don't expect. Unfortunately it's the way it goes sometimes. You can go through a season and play every game and then you can't seem to steer clear of them. Last season was very stop-start. Being injured is so frustrating, ask any player. Injuries seem to come in cycles and the harder you try to avoid them the more you seem to pick up. But I'm due a decent run now and fingers crossed, all those problems will be in the past."

Gordon Gibb ramped up Ash-mania saying "If Ashley's preparation has been right, there's no reason why he can't start the new season like a train. Immediately prior to Ashley's injury against Sheffield Wednesday, he was having the most influential game I've seen in this division from a striker. If he had not then got injured, who knows what might have happened? There is a degree of uncertainty at Derby and Bradford fans should know full well what it's like when one chairman goes and a new one comes in. If there is a wish for Ashley to return to Derby, I'm sure that comes from their fans who can remember him in his heyday. Supporters will always want their old heroes to come back as we are aware of here with the return of Dean Windass but perhaps we should forget the speculation about other clubs and focus on what Ashley can do for us."

Ashley rounded off with a modest prediction "The bookies have made us favourites to go down as usual. But I see no reason why we can't improve on last term and get ourselves solidly into mid-table."

Former Bantams on the move

Former Bantam Andy Myers is thinking over a move to Colchester while Juanjo is reported to have gone back to Spain to find a new club. Ashley Westwood is set to join Huddersfield Town of the Beezer Homes League 3rd Divison.

Dog bites man

Hot on the heels of yesterday's mushroom talk comes news of Lewis Emanuel backing his car into the railings outside Iceland in Thornberry sort of near that big Odeon cinema that no one goes to. Emanuel's agent (didn't really - mw) commented "This would never have happened if Lewis played for Huddersfield Town."

Wednesday 9 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

City's on the field progress mushrooming

BfB understands that in an effort to improve the quality of the pitch the ground staff added a thick layer of top soil to the Valley Parade turf. The returned the next day after a heavy rain storm to find a field of mushrooms. The mind boogles.

City take two on trial

Nicky Law's young player recruitment does not seem to be finished with the Bantams taking defender Joey Hutchinson from Birmingham City and Scott Cousins, another left sided midfielder from Chelsea, on trial.

Tuesday 8 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law on strike(rs)

By way of explaining the fact he has seven strikers at the club Nicky Law has said that he wants more goals from City next "We struggled for goals last year, barring Andy Gray and Claus Jorgensen we didn't get any. Neil Warnock has shown that you can have three strikers playing and another three on the bench. You can burn them out for an hour or so and then bring on three more who are all fresh. I don't see anything wrong with having seven centre forwards at the club and Robert Wolleaston can play up there as well. Competition up front is something we've never had. The more forward options you've got, then the better. Everyone's playing for their place and has to be on their mettle at all times."

Andy Gray's emergence as a centre-forward last season was down to the Bantams lacking bodies to go up front although looking at the squad last season compared to this City's problem was a lack of variety when injuries occurred that forced a certain way of player. Rudely cutting the strikers position into three categories City now can perm three from three pots.

Fast lads
  1. Michael Branch
  2. Luke Cornwall
  3. Danny Cadamarteri
  4. Kevin Sanasy
Big lads
  1. Ashley Ward
  2. Andy Gray
  3. Daniel Ekoku
Tricky lads
  1. Dean Windass
  2. Danny Forrest
  3. Patrick Bannister

Monday 7 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Mills signs for Telford

Lee Mills, who should be a City legend for his goals in the promotion campaign, has joined Telford in the non-league. Mills, who is still only 32, has been freed by Stoke City and snapped up by Stags boss Mick Jones who said "I don't want to put too much pressure on Lee but I am hopeful he might have the same kind of impact as Alan Shearer had when he moved from Blackburn to Newcastle, It is a super signing for us and I am absolutely delighted."

BfB can only agree with Jones and we are amazed that Mills has not been able to find a league club.

Wetherall wants TK to shine

City skiper David Wetherall is impressed with the returning Tom Kearney and wants the former Everton man to be one of the best midfielders in the Division. Said Wetherall "Tom coming back is like making a big signing. He is a fantastic young player. I thought last season he was going to be among the best midfielders in this division before his injury. So to have him back will be a massive plus and I'm sure he will hit top form again."

The famously level headed Kearney took his usual approach to his trials and tribulations saying "You don't appreciate how much playing football means until you're forced to sit it out and watch all the other lads get on with the game. There are quite a few new faces about the place and I think it's going to be a good season. Last year there was a lot of politics around the place but this time it's just about the football."

Kearney has always impressed us here at BfB we are glad to see him back in the starting eleven. One would worry about the future of the club resting so firmly in the hands of youngsters like Kearney but I believe we are in rare times for football. Top clubs, to make way for foreign stars who are not necessarily any better, are discarding quality English players. Blackburn Rovers selling David Dunn to sniff after Brett Emerton is a sign of this. The result is that players who should be breaking into Premiership clubs like Everton are ending up at places like City.

These players are still the same quality as those who got into first teams at Goodison (and other locations) ten years ago but are being forced to play at a lower level returning us, perhaps, to Wethrall who had he been coming into football now would have found it hard to get a place in a Premiership side, which Premiership sides take students on these days, and would probably have ended up scratching for a club in the First Davison.

He is crazy, like a fool

BfB does not often get it right but we said ages ago that Liverpool would sign Leeds man Harry Kewell and we were right. Offers accepted on one bronze statue of Billy Brenner these days at Elland Road me thinks.

Saturday 5 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law looking at 352

Nicky Law has confirmed that he is looking at switching City to a 352 formation next season. As pre-season got into gear Law said "I'm open-minded about the way we play next year. Whereas we were dictated to before, I can see us changing things for different occasions. This pre-season we will work on different ways of playing and changing it round for suitable situations. You need the chance to work on it first. Last year we couldn't play a 3-5-2 because the centre-halves weren't comfortable and had never done it before."

Bradford City 352
Combe
Francis
Wetherall
Bower
Edds
Atherton
Windass
Kearney
Emanuel
Gray
Ward
Tod freed

Andy Tod has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent to allow him to find another club. Shaun Harvey said of the news "We are pleased that the long drawn out saga has been concluded and that we have been able to mutually agree to the cancellation of Andy's contract which will hopefully enable him to get a new club back in Scotland. We all wish him well in the future."

Signed by Jim Jefferies for £100,000 Tod enjoyed a good start to his City career but considering he was plucked from Dunfermline reserves the fee Jefferies paid was excessive and while Tod was versatile he was not especially good in any position. Famously he was included in the City side over Beni Carbone at one point and frankly here at BfB we have never forgiven him for the unprofessional handball at Rotherham that lost us bragging rights over our Millmoor friends.

Paston joins City on trial

City have taken New Zealand keeper Mark Paston on a weeks trial. Six foot five Paston currently plays for Napier City Rovers.

Ward interest cools

Derby are reported to have cooled in their interest for Ashley Ward with new boss George Burley looking at bringing in a different striker next week.

Des signs for Grimsby

Des Hamilton, who is one of City's Wembley 14, has signed for Grimsby Town.

Friday 4 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Revolution 8

Michael Branch has been given the number eight shirt leading to all manner of questions as to whether the new City striker was supposed to be getting the number or if that number was originally intended for another player, perhaps Chris Llewellyn, who did not come to Valley Parade.

Branch had been assigned the number 27 shirt, an allocation which could have been a mistake on the City web site, making him the second player to hold that jersey for a brief period of time. Back in August 2001 Benito Carbone was given the 27 shirt after he signed for City. However before the famous press conference Carbone insisted on getting the number 10 top and Gareth Whalley was hastily shifted to accommodate. Carbone's few hours in the 27 shirt should be a record low although some would suggest that last season's wearer, Harpal Singh, did less for City in his two games than Carbone managed in the few hours on a plane he had it.

Thursday 3 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law's 11

Nicky Law would like to take City's summer recruitment up to eleven players claiming that the club need two more faces before kick off. Law explained "We've got Peter Atherton, Mark Bower, David Wetherall and Simon Francis to play centre-half but I feel we need one more as well as a keeper to compete with Alan Combe. I've been after a defender and obviously need to weigh things up and we're waiting on a keeper. My preferred option isn't just quite right yet. But barring problems, there's no immediate rush but I'm very pleased with the way things are going. I've been a long time preparing this."

Law continued explaining the thing he believes unites his new signings "All summer I've been chipping away at getting this organised and now everything seems to be falling into place. We've bought the players within the financial restraints we've had but the supporters will get a team that will work hard and give them their money's worth. There is competition for places and players will have to be on their toes. I hope the supporters are looking and thinking that there are some good ones here now and not just in name."

Law's preferred option for centreback could be former Hartlepool man Graeme Lee although there is also speculation that the City boss is hoping that his former Chesterfield skipper Ian Breckin will be freed after a disappointing first season at Paul Jewell's Wigan Athletic.

Branch and Heckingbottom on joining and the family tree

City's new faces Michael Branch and Paul Heckingbottom are both looking to do as Andy Gray did last term and kick start careers with a move nearer home. Michael Branch has revealed that his not signing for the Bantams on deadline was more to do with the club asking him to wait than his turning the club down. As he celebrated the birth of his son Branch said "It's been very hard at times but hopefully it's all come together for me. We've just had a little baby, Mikey, and we are looking forward to moving back up north to be close to the family. The transfer nearly happened in March but Bradford told me to sit tight and be patient. The gaffer has been as good as his word."

Speaking about his time at Norwich Heckingbottom said "I don't know what went wrong there but I knew I couldn't stay, I wanted another crack at the First Division and I heard that Bradford were interested at the end of last season. I was holding out for them to come in and I'm over the moon it's finally happened. When I saw that the opening game was Norwich and then we play Darlington in the cup, I knew I had to sign."

Bannister signing confirmed

Bradford City have confirmed the signing of Patrick Bannister by giving him the number 26 shirt for next season. 26 was the shirt given to Gordon Watson but never pressed after the former City striker left Valley Parade. It was also worn by Dan Petrescu.

Llewellyn joins Wrexham

Chris Llewellyn has joined Wrexham without, as BfB understands it, City making an offer to the Norwich forward. It has been thought that Llewellyn would take the vacant number eight shirt at Valley Parade after new boys Patrick Bannister and Michael Branch took 26 and 27 respectively however speculation, albeit of the fanciful and highly dubious verity, now says that Robbie Blake will return to the shirt he wore when City went up.

Atherton signs one year deal

City have confirmed that Peter Atherton has signed a one year deal at Valley Parade which means, looking forward, that the following players are out of contract this time next season.

Wednesday 2 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Branch and Heckingbottom make nine

City have signed Michael Branch and Paul Heckingbottom. Both players will join up with the squad after medicals on Wednesday afternoon as Julian Rhodes confirmed "Michael Branch was touted as a future England player only a few years ago. Heckingbottom is the left back we have been looking for. He still had two years left on his contract with Norwich and had to negotiate with them, apparently they were talking until 11pm."

Heckingbottom, a full back, is a former Darlington skipper and was very highly thought of at one point in his early career. Branch is a prototype of Wayne Rooney, Everton having gone from Branch to Danny Cadamarteri to Francis Jeffers before perfecting the model. Branch joins the swelling ranks of forwards at Valley Parade which now includes Cadamarteri, Ashley Ward, Andy Gray, Dean Windass, Luke Cornwall, Robert Wolleaston, Danny Forrest and Kevin Sanasy suggesting that Law is either planning to play a three man forward line or that someone might be leaving.

Heckingbottom has taken up the vacant number three shirt which has previously only been worn by Andy Myers but oddly Branch has not got the eight shirt or even the next available after the first team squad runs out which would be 26. Instead Branch will wear the 27 jersey previously donned by such illustrious names as Billy McKinlay and Harpal Singh. Real numerbs know that this was the shirt given to Rob Stiener in the Premiership but never was worn. The vacant 8 shirt is expectet to be filled by Heckingbottom's former Norwich team mate Chris Llewellyn.

Vickers not coming

It does not seem that Steve Vickers will be joining City after Julian Rhodes said in a barbed way "I don't think he will be coming... We are signing lads who are coming here to make a name for themselves."

New keeper through old boys network

City are trying to get New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston to join the club. Nicky Law said "There are a few meant to be having a look at him, including Galatasaray. But Chris Dowhan knows the head man at the New Zealand FA so hopefully we've got first go. It's nothing certain and obviously we need to get the clearance. But it costs nothing to have a look at him for a couple of weeks in pre-season."

Tuesday 1 July, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Roland Harris

City sign Bannister

City are expected to confirm the signing of former Derby man Patrick Bannister, 19, within the next few days. Bannister played for City reserves in a match in which Milan Baros scored four for Liverpool on Thursday 23 January, 2003. News on Bannister's signing has seeped from Valley Parade on a press release without every being properly trumpeted.

Vickers, Banks, Lillis and on and on

The rumour mills in full effect as BfB understands that Steve Vickers has been offered a contact by City. Vickers, who has been released by Birmingham City, is thinking over the move to Valley Parade.

It is also being said that Steve Banks will return to City as a back up keeper to Alan Combe and that recently axed Derby youth team boss Mark Lillis will be joining City in a similar role.

Town friendly off

City will not play Huddersfield Town in a friendly in July because the Police asked for £30,000 to keep the McAlpine roughly shaved apes away from God fearing Bantamfolk.

Number mayhem continues

City have continued to dish out the squad numbers as a few of the summer signings officially join the club on the expiration of their current contracts. Gareth Edds takes Claus Jorgensen's number 19 and Luke Cornwall takes 14, which had previously been used by defensive players Gus Ulhenbeek, Gary Locke and Andy O'Brien. Andy Tod's exorcism from Valley Parade continues with Robert Wolleaston being given his number 20 shirt.

While it never does to read too much into squad numbers it is noticeable that City have left four numbers empty. 13 and 17 are two of City's three goalkeeper shirts but it is usual for 3 and 8 to be vacant. Traditionally the Bantams have numbered from one upwards without gaps which suggests that City will fill the two prized team shirts with significant signings to what end BfB reader? Read on...

Llewellyn for number eight

The vacant number eight shirt would seem to have already got the name Chris Llewellyn pencilled into it. City have confirmed that the club are still interested in Llewellyn who is wanted by Wrexham, Swansea and Geoffrey Richmond's Notts County but freankly out of these four clubs City are by far the most attractive option.

The once spied Steve Vickers is being mentioned for the number three shirt although BfB's money is on Nicky Law looking for younger players such as Liverpool's Andrew Nicholas or Boro's Jonathan Agbatar both of whom have played for City Reserves.

In addition to these rumours a whisper, so faint it can barely be called a rumour, has reached the ear of BfB that the club are making noises to Andy Myers and Claus Jorgensen about returning to Valley Parade. Contracts, it is said, will only be extended to the two free agents should Ashley Ward leave the club.

Ashley Ward and the wages of sin

Roland Harris has never been a big fan of City's expensive forward Ashley Ward but he is damned if he will agree to City paying for someone to come and take Ward away as he explains in his article Ashley Ward and the wages of sin.

The month by month news index.