Football Season Guide

Bradford City

In


Finn Cousin-Dawson (Defender, Youth), Jorge Sikora (Defender, Youth), Callum Cooke (Midfielder, Peterborough United), Connor Shanks (Midfielder, Youth), Elliot Watt (Midfielder, Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kian Scales (Midfielder, Youth), Levi Sutton (Midfielder, Bradford City), Billy Clarke (Attacker, Grimsby Town)

Out


George Sykes-Kenworthy (Goalkeeper, released), Luke McGee (Goalkeeper, Portsmouth, Loan ended), Adam Henley (Defender, released), Joe Riley (Defender, Carlisle United), Kelvin Mellor (Defender, Morecambe), Chris Taylor (Midfielder, released), Danny Devine (Midfielder, Carlisle United), Dylan Connolly (Midfielder, AFC Wimbledon, Loan ended), Glenn Middleton (Midfielder, Rangers, Loan ended), Hope Akpan (Midfielder, released), Jake Reeves (Midfielder, Notts County), Jamie Devitt (Midfielder, Blackpool, Loan ended), Jermaine Anderson (Midfielder, released), Jordan Gibson (Midfielder, released), James Vaughan (Attacker, Tranmere Rovers), Shay McCartan (Attacker, released)

Stuart McCall’s status as a Bradford City legend appears to be set in stone having returned for a sixth spell with the club. He took over from Gary Bowyer in February, shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic drew last season to a close. There won’t have been many Bantams fans disappointed to see a premature end to the campaign. They saw striker Eoin Doyle sent out on loan to Swindon Town and watched as his goals took them to the League 2 title. Meanwhile they endured a mediocre season which eventually led to the departure of Bowyer. McCall, who had two spells as a player at Valley Parade, will be hoping his fourth time as manager will take the club in the right direction. He has released a whole host of players over the summer but has been taking his time to rebuild his squad. Those players who remain under contract have a lot to prove with none of them particularly excelling last season. Bradford City are a big club in League 2 albeit they now have a rival in Bolton Wanderers. Average attendances at Valley Parade are still likely to exceed 15,000 again and it will put both McCall and his players under pressure to achieve something tangible this season.

Target


Play-offs. The squad certainly needs strengthening at the time of writing but McCall is ambitious and the club should be targeting a top 7 finish.