Coca-Cola League Two
Chesterfield (0) 0
Bradford C (0) 2 Furman 54, Boulding 87
Att: 3,859
Chesterfield: Lee ,Wilson ,Gray ,Austin ,Robertson ,Till (Bowery ,60 ) ,Lowry ,Montrose (Winter ,56 ) ,Algar ,Talbot ,Boden (Askham ,70)
Subs not used: Gritton,Goodall,
Bradford: McLaughlan ,Arnison ,Rehman ,Clarke ,O'Brien ,Colbeck (Sharry ,89 ) ,Furman ,Bullock ,Law (Nix ,84 ) ,Michael Boulding ,Rory Boulding (Osborne ,57)
Subs not used Convey,Horne,
Referee: A Taylor
Stats
Chesterfield Bradford City
Shots (on Goal) 10(3) 14(8)
Fouls 11 6
Corner Kicks 7 1
Offsides 1 2
Time of Possession 51% 49%
Yellow Cards 0 0
Red Cards 0 0
Saves 8 7
Final position: 9th
Promoted: (1st) Brentford, (2) Exeter, (3) Wycombe
Playoffs: (4) Bury, (5) Gillingham, (6) Rochdale, (7) Shrewsbury.
Relegated: (23) Chester, (24) Luton
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4339558.City_subs_offer_a_glimpse_of_the_future/
City subs offer a glimpse of the future
By Simon Parker »
Chesterfield 0 City 2
The blueprint for the new-look City was unveiled at crumbling Saltergate.
Young, hungry players showing drive, determination and an unquenching will to win, even in a game that had absolutely zilch riding on it.
I told the players they all had something to play for, be it here or elsewhere. We went out and played with a pride, energy and desire and produced some good stuff
Those are the type of gems Stuart McCall hopes to unearth come August when his chopped-back budget guarantees a totally different squad.
McCall dreams of recreating the class of the early '80s when the likes of Greg Abbott, Mark Ellis and, of course, a certain ginger-haired midfielder, burst eagerly onto the scene.
That exuberance was typified on Saturday with the performances of Nicky Law and Dean Furman. They covered every blade of grass, chased every cause and generally played this last-day consolation kick-about with the intensity of a cup final.
The bad news, of course, is that unless McCall won that Euro jackpot he joked about afterwards, Law and Furman are now part of City's past.
Furman heads back north of the border and will surely have earned a say in Rangers' first-team plans next term. Law returns to the uncertainty of being unwanted at Sheffield United, where he still has another year of his contract to run.
How McCall – and anyone connected with City – would love to see those names pencilled on his team sheet again.
The line-up he did put out to face Chesterfield contained several unfamiliar figures. The bench, in particular, was raw and untried.
And McCall will be hoping that they watched and learned as Law and Furman drove constant holes through a disinterested home side.
That the likes of Leon Osborne saw Law driving at the right back towards the byline, cutting inside and looking up before laying off the killer pass.
That the likes of Luke Sharry saw Furman's determination to steal those couple of extra yards on his marker to make sure he was first to Law's cross for the opening goal.
If those lessons are digested then the legacy of the dynamic loan duo will not have been wasted.
The young ones will certainly get their chance next time. The slashed wage bill dictates the policy change towards untried and, naturally, cheap.
The big earners should all be gone. Graeme Lee and Paul McLaren were already spared Saturday and Michael Boulding's last-gasp strike was surely his swansong in a claret-and-amber jersey.
McCall's team selection did not represent a complete dressing-room revolution but it was the start.
Naturally with the play-offs gone for both sides, there was a sense of emptiness about the day. McCall admitted the short journey down the M1 had been a flat one.
But he also made it very clear that he would not accept a "beach towel and flip-flops" display on the final day. With over 1,000 away fans once again, there was an onus on the team he sent to perform for them as much as themselves.
The City chief said: "I warned them if anyone was seen going through the motions I'd bring them off after 20 minutes. I've played in nothing games and you just need one or two ducking out and taking their foot off and it's not fair on everyone else.
"I told the players they all had something to play for, be it here or elsewhere. We went out and played with a pride, energy and desire and produced some good stuff.
"We sat in the dressing room afterwards knowing that we'd got what we deserved. We've had plenty of games this season when that hasn't been the case – if we'd got what we'd merited we'd be comfortably in the play-offs.
"It's been a huge disappointment that we're not. I know, for sure, we should have been. But it's nice that we still finished with two victories once we we're out of it."
Chesterfield, minus one-man scoring machine Jack Lester, were woeful. Their display will have killed off any hope boss Lee Richardson harboured of a new contract in the summer.
The "Rico Out" brigade in the stands made their views pretty obvious throughout. But the weak-willed efforts of his players really rammed home the point.
But take nothing away from City, who ensured the travelling hordes could depart for the summer with a smile on their face.
McCall handed debuts in goal to Jon McLaughlin and up front for Rory Boulding. It was his first senior game for exactly a year – since Mansfield departed the league at Dagenham – and the first time he had started alongside his brother since December 2007.
It was a big day for McLaughlin, who has waited patiently all season behind Rhys Evans. With the regular first choice now gone from the scene, he had the opportunity to show what he could do.
Chesterfield didn't provide him with that much, mustering just one shot on target and a bad miss late on from Drew Talbot, but McLaughlin's handling was exemplary. He came for everything, took everything and looked every bit the confident keeper.
The only moment of concern was from his own doing when he took his eye off Matt Clarke's headed back pass and let it slip under his foot for a cheap corner. But the keeper redeemed himself by gobbling up the kick.
The younger of the Bould-ings can also look back on his hour's work with some satisfaction. He almost had a goal when a net-bound effort deflected off Lewis Montrose and played a significant part in City's opener.
Furman's goal in the 54th minute had been a long time coming because City had dominated up to that point.
Joe Colbeck was guilty of their worst miss when, sent clear by a lovely pass from Law, he drew keeper Tommy Lee but somehow dinked the ball wide of a gaping target. Keighley lad Lee escaped again when Lee Bullock slipped a defender to meet Luke O'Brien's cross but hammered his free header the wrong side of the near post.
The second half was the first revisited. City wasted another chance within a minute as Paul Arnison's inviting cross was scuffed by Michael Boulding from six yards out.
Then it was Law's turn to pick out Colbeck, whose side-foot into the danger zone fell agonisingly between Michael Boulding and Bullock.
Law drew a good save from Lee before the pressure finally paid off – with the midfielder inevitably the key to it.
Clarke's long ball was well fetched by Rory Boulding, who slipped it neatly into Law's path. With the defence at full stretch, Law rolled a low ball across the box, where Furman came burrowing through to convert.
Chesterfield should have snatched an equaliser totally against the run of play when Talbot was adjudged onside as he collected Gregor Robertson's through ball. But his attempted curler didn't bend and flew harmlessly wide of McLaughlin's goal.
As the natives grew more and more restless, City put the lid on it with Michael Boulding smashing home after Kyle Nix's miscue had dropped at his feet.
One set of supporters bayed for the blood of a manager whose two years at the helm had failed to produce a play-off place. Those at the away end cheered McCall all the way down the tunnel.
His will be one of the few familiar faces to emerge from it three months from now.
===========================
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/FT-Chesterfield-0-Bradford-City.5229980.jp
Chesterfield 0 Bradford City 2: Furman and Boulding on target for Bantams
STUART McCall praised Bradford supporters after the Bantams finished the season with a victory at Chesterfield.
More than 1,000 fans made the journey to Derbyshire for what was essentially a dead rubber, as neither team was able to reach the play-offs after chasing a top-seven finish.
"Our supporters were fantastic considering there was nothing on the game. My players showed a really good attitude and we got what we deserved," he said.
McCall gave debuts to goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and striker Rory Boulding as City secured their first league victory at Saltergate since 1972.
The best chance of the first half emerged after 30 minutes when a pinpoint through ball from Nicky Law split the Chesterfield defence and left Joe Colbeck with just goalkeeper Tommy Lee to beat. Colbeck's chip beat Lee but dropped just wide.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute following more good work on the left by the busy Law. He cut the ball back from the byline and Dean Furman pounced on his cross, smashing it into the roof of the net from close range.
Two minutes from the end Bradford doubled their lead after a blunder by defender Dan Gray.
A scuffed shot from outside the area by substitute Kyle Nix was going wide until Gray intervened. His poor touch set it up nicely for Michael Boulding, who buried the ball in the net.
Chesterfield: Lee; Robertson, Lowry, Austin, Montrose (Winter, 55), Boden (Askham, 70), Algar, Gray, Till (Bowery, 61), Wilson, Talbot. Unused substitutes: Gritton, Goodall.
Bradford City: McLaughlin; Arnison, Bullock, Clarke, Colbeck, M Boulding, R Boulding (Osborne, 57), O'Brien, Furman (Sharry, 90), Law (Nix, 84), Rehman. Unused substitutes: Convey, Horne.
Referee: A Taylor (Manchester).
Man of the match: Nicky Law.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4339556.Law__McCall_saved_may_career/
Law: McCall saved may career
By Simon Parker »
Nicky Law today hailed Stuart McCall for rescuing him from the football wilderness.
Law turned in an outstanding display to sign off his loan in Saturday's season-ending win at Chesterfield.
And then the Sheffield United midfielder paid tribute to the impact McCall has made on his own game.
Law said: "I'd personally like to thank the manager. He's saved my career and I'll remember that forever.
"At the start of the season I couldn't get anywhere. I was just playing reserve-team football, sometimes training with only eight people and at my age that's no good.
"So this has been amazing season for me. I never expected to come out on loan and play over 30 games and I'm really grateful to the manager for that.
"I've got stronger, which I needed to do, and developed my game. And I also feel comfortable in all three positions in midfield where before I was just an out-and-out central player."
But Law admitted he will leave Valley Parade with one big regret – City missing out on the play-offs by just two points.
He added: "It's heartbreaking for everyone. The manager is so passionate about the club and the fans have been great for us all season. All I can say is sorry that we haven't done it. We know we should have been in the top seven and we're gutted."
Goals from Dean Furman and Michael Boulding clinched a 2-0 victory at Saltergate, only City's second away triumph in 14 games. It meant they finished in ninth spot.
Law said: "I don't think it was your typical end-of-season game, especially on our part anyway.
"We were under strict instructions not to let it drift and I don't think Chesterfield were expecting us to come out as well as we did.
"I wanted to have a good last game personally and I'm glad we got the result for the fans.
"I've enjoyed the whole experience of playing for this club."
===========================
===========================
Earlier ....
Radio Leeds interview.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8027419.stm
===========================
McCall stays but must make cuts
Stuart McCall is facing a "horrible couple of days" as City tighten
their belts after he agreed to stay put.
McCall ended the speculation by committing his managerial future to
Valley Parade but then warned of tough times ahead to meet the slashed
budget for next season.
The City boss has taken a voluntary drop in pay and admits other players
and members of his coaching staff will have to do the same.
He said: "There are going to have to be cuts in lots of areas and that's
down to me to tell people that. The next few days will be horrible – but
that's like anywhere people are getting laid off.
"It's just how the finances are at this club at the moment. It's going
to be tough but that's the climate we're in, not just football but
throughout the world, and you've got to cut your cloth accordingly.
"I don't want the club to end up where it's been in the last ten years
and going through those dark times again, so cuts have got to be made."
McCall admitted the challenge of starting again with a much-trimmed wage
bill was as persuasive an argument in convincing him to carry on as the
"humbling" response from fans.
"I didn't want to feel I was deserting a sinking ship and although the
expectation won't be as high as this season, I still want to be as
successful as I possibly can," he said.
Top of McCall's agenda will be shifting the highest earners from the
wage bill. Last summer's recruits Graeme Lee, Paul McLaren and Michael
Boulding have release options in their contracts, while Chris Brandon's
future could also be in doubt.
McCall, who met eight of the squad yesterday afternoon, admitted the
plan to bring in players with higher-division experience had not paid
off and City were paying the cost.
He said: "Contracts are contracts but if the players are going to stay
on a certain amount of money, it will make it tough. I'd like to think
we'll be able to get a few of the lads out.
"A lot of the deals said that if we were still in this division, they
could take the option up and find another club, and they might have
something sorted out already.
"I'm sure they've read the papers and know the situation going on. Four
of the boys would take up half the budget if they aren't moved on.
"That's no fault of theirs but just how it's worked out. If we can get a
few moved on, it might just give us a fighting chance of success.
"This season has been a huge disappointment. We went down the road of
bringing in people with a little bit of experience who could take the
pressure of big crowds and the expectation that comes with playing for
Bradford City in this division.
"That won't be the case next season, when we'll have some youngsters as
well as some of the lads we've already got here."
Eighteen contracts are up within the squad and McCall is expected to
operate with fewer numbers next term. His coaching staff is also likely
to be cut back.
He said: "I've got a lot of people to see over the next couple of days.
The ones that are going to be involved at Chesterfield I'd rather leave
until next week.
"Even with the lads we've got here, the offers they will get will be a
reduction from what they are on now.
"It's going to be hard for me and the easiest decision would have been
to carry out what I'd said but that would be walking away and quitting.
"The bottom line is that we are a League Two club with a Championship
ground and support. One day it would be great to have a Championship team.
"We are where we are and live within our means. Some agents and players
see the 12,000 crowds and think we are minted. Those around here know
the bills we have to pay and everything that comes with being at this
ground."
===========================
Bradford City: It's great to see the gaffer stay says Thorne
Peter Thorne has revealed his delight at Stuart McCall's decision to
stay at Valley Parade – sentiments echoed by thousands of Bradford City
fans.
The Bantams chief had spent the best part of two weeks agonising over
whether to remain at City or quit after being heartbroken at the club's
failure to reach the League Two play-offs following a horror spring run.
And the City faithful, who implored the club legend not to leave
throughout Saturday's 3-0 home success over Rotherham, have been granted
their wish after being on tenterhooks all week.
McCall will now honour his new two-year contract after first stating
that he would walk away if City weren't promoted following a wretched
4-1 reverse at Bournemouth in mid-March.
Top-scorer Thorne – whose parents were among those handing out "Save our
Stuart" posters last weekend – said: "For me, he had to give it another
year to get the club back up. People forget it's still pretty new to
him; it's his second year in management and he's still learning.
"Hand on my heart, in 20 years I've never seen anyone wanting it as
much, manager-wise. I really, really do wish he takes this club up. The
fans absolutely adore him. And he adores the club and the fans."
He added: "We've got to shoulder much of the blame for what's happened
this season, not the gaffer.
"We were the ones going out there and he's been the one pulling his hair
out sometimes with the performances we've been putting in."
On staying put, McCall said: "The Monday after the Dagenham game, I was
almost certainly gone. But I've spoken to a lot of people since to get a
level of perspective and the support I've received from the fans has
been humbling.
"It's been an emotional time, but to top it off and sway my mind was the
club's decision to cut back the budget.
===========================
Youngsters will have key role to play
Stuart McCall is ready for the challenge of moulding a raw City team
in the image of the one he broke into as a youngster.
With the wage budget slashed for next season, it will be a much younger
– and cheaper – squad at McCall's disposal.
The City boss faces a summer of "starting again and rebuilding" and
hopes to unearth some young starlets.
Having decided to stay on at the helm, McCall believes it can be done
and will use his own experience as a young rookie breaking through as a
shining example.
He said: "It may be fantasy thinking but I look back to 1982 and 1983
when we had diamonds like Greg Abbott and John Hendrie as well as kids
coming through the ranks like myself, Mark Ellis and Don Goodman.
"That's how it's going to have to be next season and the seasons ahead,
with hopefully some young blood coming through.
"I don't want to get in any trouble financially. You look at what
happened at Darlington and there are a lot of clubs who are close to
going to the wall.
"We're not like that but the two chairmen did put the money up this
season to have a good go and it still rankles we're not in the
play-offs. Now it's almost like starting again and rebuilding.
"Once I get the next week or two out the way, I will have a little break
and then there's no doubt in my mind I will come back fresh and ready.
"I know the market we are aiming for; bringing in some good young,
hungry and cheap kids. It will be a summer of trying to wheel and deal
and I'm sure it can be done."
McCall can point to the young players who made a real impact this term.
Luke O'Brien was named player of the year in his first full season,
while loan signings Dean Furman and Nicky Law were among City's most
consistent performers.
===========================
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