Monday, May 18, 2009
News / Pre-season friendlies
England head for Valley Parade
League Two side Bradford City will play host to an England Under-19s European Championship qualifier against Slovakia later this month.
Brian Eastick's squad will play three of their group matches in Yorkshire, with the clash against Slovakia taking place at Valley Parade on Friday, May 29.
England are scheduled to play Bosnia-Herzegovina at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium on May 27 and take on old rivals Scotland at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on June 1.
Bosnia will take on Slovakia in another group match at Valley Parade on June 1.
If England finish top of their group they will progress to the competition finals in Ukraine in July.
===========================
Championship side Barnsley will visit Valley Parade as part of City's pre-season preparations.
Simon Davey's Tykes will face City on Saturday, July 25th.
City have announced four friendlies, which begin with a clash at neighbours Park Avenue on Wednesday, July 15.
Four days later, they head to KitKat Crescent to take on FA Trophy finalists York.
The Bantams will also travel to Derbyshire on Tuesday, July 28 for a match against Alfreton, who are managed by former City boss Nicky Law.
With Tuesday, July 21 and Saturday, August 1 still vacant, City are expected to add more games.
===========================
Bateson one for future at City
City have made an offer to teenage right back Jonathan Bateson.
The 19-year-old Blackburn product finished last season on trial at
Valley Parade and featured in reserve games against Grimsby and Rotherham.
Bateson impressed Stuart McCall enough to earn a permanent deal.
McCall said: "He's only a young lad on the minimum money but he's one we
think might come through.
"I wouldn't say he's definitely one for now to go in the first team
straight away – but we were saying the same thing about Luke O'Brien
last year, so it shows what can happen.
"Jonathan has played a couple of times for the reserves and trained with
the first team lads at the back end of the season. He looked comfortable
and confident.
"He's got a good pedigree coming from Blackburn and has fitted in well
since he's been training with us."
Bateson captained the Blackburn academy side but his chances of breaking
into the reserves were hampered by a cartilage operation which ruled him
out for much of the 2007-08 campaign.
He made one appearance for the Rovers second string last season before
spending a month on loan at Buxton in the UniBond League.
He was spotted by David Wetherall and Wayne Jacobs at the exit trials
for Premier League players who have been released.
Meanwhile, McCall is waiting on a response to the contracts he has
offered to the club's senior players.
He said: "They've got about three weeks to decide. The offers have just
gone out so they probably only got them on Saturday morning."
===========================
City players should grab it while they can
City's out-of-contract players were today warned: You'd be mad not to
take what's on the table.
Lee Bullock, Matt Clarke and Zesh Rehman have all been made reduced
offers to stay at Valley Parade. Peter Thorne will also be asked to play
for less if he agrees to carry on.
Stuart McCall and number two Wayne Jacobs have already taken pay cuts to
fit in with the smaller budget and the club expect the squad to follow
suit.
City legend John Hendrie insists that the players have no choice but to
accept because of the current economic climate.
Hendrie said: "There is not the same money knocking about football at
the lower levels as before. Players have got to look outside their own
little cocoons and see the real world.
"People are getting laid off everywhere; I've been involved in
redundancies in my family and friends.
"There are always so many players without a job every year. You look at
the number who fall by the wayside and drop into non-league.
"It's dog eat dog in the lower divisions. Players have to take a reality
check – or they will be out on their ear.
"It's a brave man who knocks back a contract offer hoping for something
better to come along.
"Even if you think something else is lined up, I can assure you from
being a manager that he will have two or three irons in the fire for
that position.
"So my advice is: if you get the offer of a contract, get your backside
in there and sign it."
T&A columnist Hendrie also believes that contracts have to be more
incentive-based to save cash on those who are not featuring on the pitch.
He added: "You can only play 11 at a time or 14 at most. There might be
a squad of 20 players but why pay them all the same rate when six of
them aren't used?
"When players are injured they get a basic wage, even in the summer. It
should be the same for everyone, with incentives for appearances."
Players have until the middle of next month to sign their contracts.
Player of the year Luke O'Brien, Joe Colbeck, Jon McLaughlin and Leon
Osborne are also thinking over new deals.
Hendrie added: "I don't think the players have any option but to
seriously consider what is on offer. There's no point in being flippant
about it.
"In the division Bradford City are in, the days of silly wages are gone
because there are so many players out there who will come in and sign
for a lot less money."
===========================
McCall wants players with right stuff
Stuart McCall will not adopt the hard-sell technique with his summer
transfer targets.
With next term's budget cut by more than a third, the City chief has
altered his approach to the market.
He wants potential recruits to convince him that they are keen on a
Valley Parade move for the right motives.
McCall explained: "Last year we went out to sell the club to get people.
If players had other clubs to choose from in League One, that's what we
had to do.
"I was bending over backwards to get people here because it was the
right thing to do at the time.
"But this year I don't need to sell the club. The club sells itself. Now
we'll see how desperate people are to come.
"I want people to come to play for us for the right reasons. I fire the
question back at them and ask: 'Why do you want to come here?' "It's not
going to be for financial reasons but if they say the crowds, the
ambition and the potential of the place, then that's great."
McCall admits his hands are currently tied to an extent because of the
need to get the bigger earners off the wage bill, so he has been forced
to adopt a patient approach.
"I've had agents on offering us players but the line for now is that we
would be interested if they are willing to wait," he said.
"Whoever's out of contract at this moment in time is going to find it
tough until they have proper wage demands.
"You only have to look at what's happening. Every day clubs are
releasing eight, ten or 12 people. There are so many players available
out there.
"People come on the phone to me and when they hear what we are offering,
agents are aghast. They see we've got 12,000 home crowds – but they are
12,000 fans paying £6 to get in.
"The ticket offer has been a fantastic gesture because we want more
people to watch us play. But it doesn't mean we have the finances that
those not connected with the club might think."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
News summary from the past week.
News summary from the past week.
===========================
McCall: I'll make best of a bad situation
Stuart McCall insists he will not beat himself up next season if
things don't go right.
The City boss is braced for a summer of rebuilding to fit in with the
new budget.
McCall is confident he can form a competitive squad within the financial
restrictions now facing the club.
But he has learned from the hype and expectation surrounding his first
two years at the helm not to get carried away again.
McCall said: "I'm putting no pressure on myself next season, I will just
do my absolute best. If that's not good enough, then so be it.
"My expectation next season of myself and the club will be to do our
best. I will set certain individual challenges for people in the club
but we will just go out to do our best with what we've got."
City will release their retain-ed list within the next 24 hours once
McCall has spoken to the rest of his squad. It is understood that Mark
Bower and Rhys Evans have already left and McCall will work to get the
high earners off the wage bill.
Like the manager, others may have to agree to take a wage cut if they
accept another deal.
He added: "There are some tough and horrible decisions still to be made
but that's the way the finances are at this club and a lot of others.
"It's going to be a big rebuilding job but one I'm really up for. I've
been taking loads of calls from agents and I'm going to a reserve game
tomorrow to watch a player.
"We have to work prudently but there's no reason I can't put a squad
together that will give of their best."
There were bullish predictions from the board, boss and players before
the season about City's promotion chances.
McCall himself launched his managerial career two years ago by stating
that he would be a failure if he could not take the club up.
McCall, still bitterly disappointed with the ninth-place finish, will
take a more realistic approach into next term.
He added: "When I first came, we wanted the momentum. Bradford had been
on a ten-year decline so we wanted to lift the spirits originally just
to get everyone behind what we were doing.
"Our aim will always be to get out of this division and this season we
had a go after the two chairmen rightly pin-pointed some clubs starting
on negative points.
"It wasn't like last year when the top two, MK Dons and Peterborough,
were miles ahead. I don't think the top seven should have been out of
our grasp with the squad we had.
"You look at who's going up. We battered Exeter at home, should never
have lost at Brentford and there was nothing in the two games against
Wycombe.
"I'm more disappointed because I don't think there's been anybody much
better than us. We've certainly had the ability but maybe we've not been
strong enough in certain areas.
"Now we've got the challenge to start again. We'll come back next season
refocused on doing our best – but not setting any targets beyond that."
===========================
The Ground Sharing Debate
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/4338660.Is_it_time_for_City_and_Bulls_to_move_in_together_permanently_/
===========================
Rehman offered chance at City
Wed May 6, 2009 1:41 am (PDT)
By Simon Parker »
Zesh Rehman has been offered the chance to sign permanently for City, Stuart McCall today revealed.
The Pakistan international defender, who has spent the last three months on loan from QPR, is among the players McCall wants to keep in his streamlined squad for next term.
Matt Clarke, Lee Bullock, player of the season Luke O'Brien, Joe Colbeck, Leon Osborne and Jon McLaughlin are also getting offers. Youngsters Luke Sharry and Matthew Convey will be given six-month deals.
Top scorer Peter Thorne will sit down with McCall next week to see if he can figure in City's future plans.
As reported in the T&A yesterday, Rhys Evans and Mark Bower have both been released. Paul Heckingbottom, who spent most of last season injured, has also gone, as well as Barry Conlon.
Kyle Nix has not been made an offer but McCall said he can come back for pre-season to try his luck again if he is not fixed up elsewhere.
McCall would also love to keep the likes of Nicky Law, Dean Furman and Steve Jones.
He has spoken with the loan trio and "is trying to do everything in his power" to bring them back but admits he is not in a position to make anything concrete.
McCall was sitting down with the two club chairmen today to see how much cash will be available in the new contracts.
But apart from the likes of lower earners O'Brien and Colbeck, who can expect a rise, the wage offers will be less than before.
McCall said: "Just because people are getting offers, it doesn't mean they will accept them. They are all going to be on reduced money but that's the way of the world at the moment.
"But hopefully we can offer something that's a good enough incentive package to keep them."
McCall's hand will be strengthened if he can get the highest earners moved on. City are hoping that Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee and Michael Boulding all take up the options in their contracts to find another club.
Chris Brandon is another whose future is shrouded in doubt because of the need to cut costs.
If McCall cannot shift any of them, it will impact heavily on the much-reduced wage budget, which has been slashed by more than a third for next season.
Rehman partnered Clarke at centre half for the first time at Chesterfield and his offer indicates skipper Lee is no longer part of McCall's thinking.
McCall said: "Zesh and Clarkey did well as a pair on Saturday. Sometimes facts can blind you but in the four games Zesh played down the middle, we only conceded one goal.
"It's value for money we're looking for and Zesh has shown he can fill the position for us."
===========================
Clarke and Bullock fit the bill for City
Stuart McCall insists that City must get tougher on their travels next
season.
And that was behind his thinking to offer new deals to Matt Clarke and
Lee Bullock.
City were beaten 13 times on their travels and let in 37 goals. Only six
sides conceded more away from home and all finished in the bottom half.
They signed off the season at Chester-field with a seventh away victory
but that was only their second after Christmas.
McCall said: "We were third top scorers in the league this season but
conceded too many goals, especially away from home.
"We need to be tighter in away games. There were times when we played a
bit too cavalier and got punished.
"Going forward, most of the team were doing things right but we've let
in too many goals ourselves.
"We've tried to go for a lot of football but sometimes you have to play
it as tough as the away side."
Clarke missed only two league games at centre half but his ungainly
style often came in for criticism.
Bullock, too, is not a flashy performer in midfield but McCall believes
those are the type of players needed to compete at League Two level.
He added: "People look at Clarkey's distribution and say he's not so
good on the ball. But next season is about being strong defensively.
"He's got all the attributes you want in a defender. He's powerful,
physical and a good height. For the budget we've got, I look about and
there's no better around than what we've got.
"If you've got a centre half who can defend strongly and also use the
ball well, then he probably won't be in League Two.
"You see a lot of teams in this division and it's just about defending
and getting the ball away, not what you can do with it. First and
foremost, you want your defenders just to be able to defend."
Clarke and Bullock will both be getting new offers, although they will
have to accept reduced terms.
McCall said: "It's about getting value for money again. What we can get
them for and what they can do for us.
"Bully is another effective player at this level and was doing well
prior to his bad injury. We will need to be big and strong at times next
season, particularly in away games, and he's the type of player who can
do that."
McCall spent all day yesterday (wednesday 6th) with joint-chairmen Mark Lawn and Julian
Rhodes finalising the details of the contract offers. Under Football
League rules, the players must respond by the middle of next month.
===========================
City axe youth team manager
Chris Casper has lost his job as youth-team boss because of City's
play-off failure.
Casper was released after the club missed out on a potential £250,000
windfall from the end-of-season promotion lottery, which kicked off last
night.
Assistant manager Wayne Jacobs has also matched Stuart McCall by taking
a 20 per cent wage cut as the club's belt-tightening policy bites deep
among the backroom staff as well as players.
Casper's contract has not been renewed so David Wetherall will combine
running the youth side next season with the reserves.
McCall admitted that breaking the bad news to the former Bury boss, who
only joined City 11 months ago, was the hardest call of a difficult week.
He said: "Chris has been an outstanding member of our management team.
"He's done a great job with the youth lads, as well as working closely
with David with the reserves. He's also been to a lot of games scouting
for the first team and he's got good contacts over in Lancashire, which
we've used.
"This decision is nothing to do with his ability and his work. It's just
a cost-cutting measure that we had to make.
"Wethers has got a year left as a coach and the board said I've got to
lose a member of staff.
"We are losing out on at least a quarter of a million in revenue from
not making the play-offs and we've paid a big price for that.
Unfortunately, some have paid an even bigger price and lost their jobs."
Casper's departure will leave McCall in the same scenario he faced when
he came back to Valley Parade two years ago. Other money-saving
measures, such as restricting the number of overnight stays for
long-distance away games, will also be brought in.
McCall added: "We have to go back to basics. It's something we have to
accept. This is the way the world, and not just football, is going.
"We've seen dark days in the last ten years and been in administration
twice. I don't want to go anywhere near that again, so whatever we have
to do, we will do. I'm not scare-mongering but we know a lot of clubs
look like they could go to the wall and we don't want to be one of them."
McCall confirmed: "The offers we've made to 11 players have been greatly
reduced with the majority of them."
===========================
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/McCall-forced-to-wield-axe.5243924.jp
McCall forced to wield axe to meet reduced Bradford City budget
07 May 2009
By Richard Sutcliffe
THE cull at Bradford City is underway after Stuart McCall released five players and offered reduced terms to several other members of his squad.
The Bantams' failure to win promotion has led to a drastically reduced playing budget being drawn up for next season at Valley Parade.
Around a third is expected to be shaved off the wage bill and manager McCall has already moved by asking the club's highest earners to leave even though they have a year remaining on their current deals.
Among those being released this summer are goalkeeper Rhys Evans and long-serving defender Mark Bower, while also heading for the exit door are Paul Heckingbottom, Barry Conlon and Kyle Nix. The latter has, however, been told he can return for pre-season training if he does not find another club in the meantime.
Among the players McCall wants to keep are Matt Clarke, Joe Colbeck, Leon Osborne, Jon McLaughlin and player of the year Luke O'Brien with the quintet all due to be offered new deals.
Top scorer Peter Thorne will also sit down soon in the next few days with the City manager who is also keen to sign QPR defender Zesh Rehman, who spent the final three months of this season on loan in West Yorkshire, permanently.
Loanees Nicky Law, Dean Furman and Steve Jones have returned to Sheffield United, Rangers and Burnley, respectively but, again, McCall wants to keep hold of the trio.
That means he will need to persuade high-earners Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee and Michael Boulding that their futures lay elsewhere despite having a year remaining on their current deals.
Likewise, former Huddersfield Town midfielder Chris Brandon's future remains unclear.
===========================
No rift between McCall and Bower
Sat May 9, 2009 2:21 am (PDT)
Stuart McCall today dismissed the rumours of a personality clash with
Mark Bower.
The long-serving centre half was among the six senior players released
by City this week.
Bower's exit came as no surprise considering he did not start a league
game last season and spent three months at Luton on loan. He was also
understood to be the club's highest earner.
But McCall hit back at suggestions that the defender did not feature
because the pair had "fallen out".
The City boss said: "That couldn't be further from the truth. From our
relationship point of view, there has not been one problem and it's hard
to say goodbye to him.
"I've sat down with Mark and we spoke regularly on the phone when he was
at Luton. He understands the current climate at the football club.
"Cuts have to be made and the wage he was on made it impossible for us
to go anywhere near.
"But I respect what he's done for the club over the years and he's a
terrific professional. I hold him in the highest regard first and
foremost as a person as well as a player."
Bower found himself sidelined as McCall paired Graeme Lee with the
quicker Matt Clarke at centre half. His only full game was against Leeds
in the JP Trophy.
McCall felt that a Lee and Bower partnership would have lacked mobility,
while putting him alongside Clarke would have meant using two left-sided
players.
He added: "When Mark played with David (Wetherall), we did defend a
little bit deeper because of the lack of pace.
"Like Wethers, Graeme Lee is excellent aerially attacking the ball but
he can't come too high up the pitch. So Clarkey adds that extra pace
which is what he's got over Bowser."
Bower's campaign was affected early on by injury and illness. Then City
went on a run of eight clean sheets in 11 games before the rot set in.
McCall said: "Mark had not played enough football for half the season so
we wanted him to go away and get some regular games.
"TJ Moncur had gone back to Fulham and we'd brought Zesh Rehman in and
the books also had to be balanced.
"I've still got the responsibility from the club to watch the finances
and Luton were giving us half his wages."
When the Hatters' relegation was confirmed, Bower returned to Valley
Parade and made his 254th and final appearance for City as a sub against
Rotherham.
McCall said: "I wish Mark the very best for the future. I'm sure he will
get a new club and do well because of the person and dedicated pro that
he is."
===========================
Nix gutted at City rejection
Kyle Nix will refuse City's offer to come back for pre-season.
Stuart McCall released the midfielder last week, although the Valley
Parade door was left ajar with an invitation to return for training in
July if he failed to find another club before then.
But dejected Nix has made it clear that he will not be taking it up.
He said: "Thanks but no thanks. It would feel a bit belittling, to be
honest, to do that after being here for two years already.
"I don't think I need to prove myself again after playing 65 games for
the club.
"They've made a decision about me, and that's fair enough, so I can't
see how the situation would change."
Nix finished City's second-top scorer in his debut year with eight goals
from 44 appearances but he played less than half that second time around
following the arrival of Paul McLaren, Nicky Law and Dean Furman.
He made his first start in four months for the final home game but was
back on the bench last week against Chesterfield. Nix admitted he was
bracing himself for bad news over a contract.
"I haven't been involved this season so I went in there not expecting
anything," he said.
"I obviously haven't been part of the plans for the season just gone, so
I didn't expect to be part of the future.
"But I'm still gutted about it. They want young, hungry players for the
club next season and they are letting me go.
"Having come through a Premier League academy and then dropped out
completely, I know what it's like to go out of the game. That's what
makes me hungry.
"I gave two years of my all and nobody knows that more than the gaffer
and Jakes (Wayne Jacobs). I feel I've always shown the right attitude
and never thrown the towel in.
"You're not going to be every fan's cup of tea but hopefully they could
see what it meant to me. But I know the decision is not just down to the
gaffer and the people above may not rate me. That's football."
Nix was rescued from non-league football two years ago by McCall. He
initially survived on monthly deals before establishing himself in the
squad.
Nix said: "I'm really grateful to the gaffer for giving me the
opportunity in the first place. I was without a club and he brought me
back into league football and I owe a lot to him for that.
"The fans have always been good to me and it's nice to know that so many
were still behind me and wanted me to stay. Unfortunately the decision
wasn't down to them.
"But it was special to get such a great reception for my last game at
Valley Parade. Playing in front of 13,000 against Rotherham, my
home-town club, and getting clapped off like that by the fans was
brilliant.
"I wish Bradford all the best and I thank them for giving me another
chance. I just felt I had more to offer."
===========================
Transfer market on hold while City quartet mull over options
Posted by: "Darran Slator" darran@slator.freeserve.co.uk dslator
Mon May 11, 2009 9:54 am (PDT)
Like any keen shopper, Stuart McCall's head is full of lists.
Every day, another sheet full of players released by clubs arrives on
his desk. In these uncertain economic times, the market has never been
so full with surplus talent.
But while everybody is busy cutting costs, McCall is unable to dive
straight in. He might sound out an interested party or two but that is
as far as it can go for the City boss until he does the real business of
the summer and gets the big earners off the wage bill.
The club purse strings will be governed by if and when certain players
can be moved on.
So for now, McCall can only pencil in ideas for next term. Everything
hinges on what happens next with Graeme Lee, Paul McLaren, Michael
Boulding and Chris Brandon.
The first three have the option to go elsewhere, though the choice is in
the favour of the players. With Brandon, a lifelong City fan, there is
no release clause halfway through his deal but he is being asked to look
for a new club.
The details of all four have been circulated to every club in the bottom
two divisions.
It is not ideal but this is football we're talking about. And football,
like any other business, is feeling the financial squeeze.
The big earners should not be portrayed as fall guys. Their "crime" was
simply signing the contract that City were happy to put on the table 12
months ago.
McCall feels bad about trying to force them out of the door but admits
he has no choice after the overall budget was slashed by more than a third.
He is no stranger to this scenario. The same thing happened to him in
2002 as City plummeted towards the first administration.
McCall can see both sides of the fence but the club's interests must
come first.
He said: "The boys know that their deals will take up the majority of
next year's budget if they are still here.
"It's not their fault, it's just a fact with the budget being what it is.
"Those four lads have every right to come back next season but if they
are here, we're going to have to really get kids in.
"As captain, Graeme Lee has done a good job in the dressing room. He's a
good person and has enjoyed his time here but at the minute he's on too
much money for where we are with the budget.
"That also goes for Paul McLaren, Michael Boulding and Chris Brandon.
"They've all got a year left but the players that we would be looking to
bring in to replace them would be on half of what they are earning if
not less than that.
"Those four lads could still come back in the summer and we'd work with
them and do the best with what we can.
"But from our point of view, it's in the club's best interests for me to
build a young squad for next season and for them to move on."
McLaren is expected to sort something out. The classy midfielder has cut
a frustrated figure recently and admits he has not done himself justice.
Boulding, too, has been in and out the side and his goals dried up
crucially during the nine-match nightmare that killed City's promotion
hopes.
Lee, who was keen to make up for the near-miss next season, will leave
reluctantly. Brandon, possibly, even more so considering his lack of
action for the team he has always followed.
But there are no guarantees about anything. Particularly as City are
trying to hawk them around in such a buyers' market.
McCall added: "That will make it a little bit more difficult because
everyone is cutting their cloth accordingly.
"As players, you are on X amount and if another club will only offer you
half of that, is it worthwhile moving when you're already sat on the
contract that you've got?
"There is no blame attached to the players whatsoever. We've offered
them contracts and unfortunately it hasn't worked out.
"If it had done, we'd be going into the next division with experienced
players who have performed at a higher level. That's not been the case.
"The bottom line is that they've got two-year deals and there's a
possibility they will be back here for pre-season training.
"That makes it impossible for me to go out and make concrete offers for
players until I know what money is available.
"We can't make any real move on anyone until we know who's staying and
who's going."
***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***
===========================
McCall: I'll make best of a bad situation
Stuart McCall insists he will not beat himself up next season if
things don't go right.
The City boss is braced for a summer of rebuilding to fit in with the
new budget.
McCall is confident he can form a competitive squad within the financial
restrictions now facing the club.
But he has learned from the hype and expectation surrounding his first
two years at the helm not to get carried away again.
McCall said: "I'm putting no pressure on myself next season, I will just
do my absolute best. If that's not good enough, then so be it.
"My expectation next season of myself and the club will be to do our
best. I will set certain individual challenges for people in the club
but we will just go out to do our best with what we've got."
City will release their retain-ed list within the next 24 hours once
McCall has spoken to the rest of his squad. It is understood that Mark
Bower and Rhys Evans have already left and McCall will work to get the
high earners off the wage bill.
Like the manager, others may have to agree to take a wage cut if they
accept another deal.
He added: "There are some tough and horrible decisions still to be made
but that's the way the finances are at this club and a lot of others.
"It's going to be a big rebuilding job but one I'm really up for. I've
been taking loads of calls from agents and I'm going to a reserve game
tomorrow to watch a player.
"We have to work prudently but there's no reason I can't put a squad
together that will give of their best."
There were bullish predictions from the board, boss and players before
the season about City's promotion chances.
McCall himself launched his managerial career two years ago by stating
that he would be a failure if he could not take the club up.
McCall, still bitterly disappointed with the ninth-place finish, will
take a more realistic approach into next term.
He added: "When I first came, we wanted the momentum. Bradford had been
on a ten-year decline so we wanted to lift the spirits originally just
to get everyone behind what we were doing.
"Our aim will always be to get out of this division and this season we
had a go after the two chairmen rightly pin-pointed some clubs starting
on negative points.
"It wasn't like last year when the top two, MK Dons and Peterborough,
were miles ahead. I don't think the top seven should have been out of
our grasp with the squad we had.
"You look at who's going up. We battered Exeter at home, should never
have lost at Brentford and there was nothing in the two games against
Wycombe.
"I'm more disappointed because I don't think there's been anybody much
better than us. We've certainly had the ability but maybe we've not been
strong enough in certain areas.
"Now we've got the challenge to start again. We'll come back next season
refocused on doing our best – but not setting any targets beyond that."
===========================
The Ground Sharing Debate
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/4338660.Is_it_time_for_City_and_Bulls_to_move_in_together_permanently_/
===========================
Rehman offered chance at City
Wed May 6, 2009 1:41 am (PDT)
By Simon Parker »
Zesh Rehman has been offered the chance to sign permanently for City, Stuart McCall today revealed.
The Pakistan international defender, who has spent the last three months on loan from QPR, is among the players McCall wants to keep in his streamlined squad for next term.
Matt Clarke, Lee Bullock, player of the season Luke O'Brien, Joe Colbeck, Leon Osborne and Jon McLaughlin are also getting offers. Youngsters Luke Sharry and Matthew Convey will be given six-month deals.
Top scorer Peter Thorne will sit down with McCall next week to see if he can figure in City's future plans.
As reported in the T&A yesterday, Rhys Evans and Mark Bower have both been released. Paul Heckingbottom, who spent most of last season injured, has also gone, as well as Barry Conlon.
Kyle Nix has not been made an offer but McCall said he can come back for pre-season to try his luck again if he is not fixed up elsewhere.
McCall would also love to keep the likes of Nicky Law, Dean Furman and Steve Jones.
He has spoken with the loan trio and "is trying to do everything in his power" to bring them back but admits he is not in a position to make anything concrete.
McCall was sitting down with the two club chairmen today to see how much cash will be available in the new contracts.
But apart from the likes of lower earners O'Brien and Colbeck, who can expect a rise, the wage offers will be less than before.
McCall said: "Just because people are getting offers, it doesn't mean they will accept them. They are all going to be on reduced money but that's the way of the world at the moment.
"But hopefully we can offer something that's a good enough incentive package to keep them."
McCall's hand will be strengthened if he can get the highest earners moved on. City are hoping that Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee and Michael Boulding all take up the options in their contracts to find another club.
Chris Brandon is another whose future is shrouded in doubt because of the need to cut costs.
If McCall cannot shift any of them, it will impact heavily on the much-reduced wage budget, which has been slashed by more than a third for next season.
Rehman partnered Clarke at centre half for the first time at Chesterfield and his offer indicates skipper Lee is no longer part of McCall's thinking.
McCall said: "Zesh and Clarkey did well as a pair on Saturday. Sometimes facts can blind you but in the four games Zesh played down the middle, we only conceded one goal.
"It's value for money we're looking for and Zesh has shown he can fill the position for us."
===========================
Clarke and Bullock fit the bill for City
Stuart McCall insists that City must get tougher on their travels next
season.
And that was behind his thinking to offer new deals to Matt Clarke and
Lee Bullock.
City were beaten 13 times on their travels and let in 37 goals. Only six
sides conceded more away from home and all finished in the bottom half.
They signed off the season at Chester-field with a seventh away victory
but that was only their second after Christmas.
McCall said: "We were third top scorers in the league this season but
conceded too many goals, especially away from home.
"We need to be tighter in away games. There were times when we played a
bit too cavalier and got punished.
"Going forward, most of the team were doing things right but we've let
in too many goals ourselves.
"We've tried to go for a lot of football but sometimes you have to play
it as tough as the away side."
Clarke missed only two league games at centre half but his ungainly
style often came in for criticism.
Bullock, too, is not a flashy performer in midfield but McCall believes
those are the type of players needed to compete at League Two level.
He added: "People look at Clarkey's distribution and say he's not so
good on the ball. But next season is about being strong defensively.
"He's got all the attributes you want in a defender. He's powerful,
physical and a good height. For the budget we've got, I look about and
there's no better around than what we've got.
"If you've got a centre half who can defend strongly and also use the
ball well, then he probably won't be in League Two.
"You see a lot of teams in this division and it's just about defending
and getting the ball away, not what you can do with it. First and
foremost, you want your defenders just to be able to defend."
Clarke and Bullock will both be getting new offers, although they will
have to accept reduced terms.
McCall said: "It's about getting value for money again. What we can get
them for and what they can do for us.
"Bully is another effective player at this level and was doing well
prior to his bad injury. We will need to be big and strong at times next
season, particularly in away games, and he's the type of player who can
do that."
McCall spent all day yesterday (wednesday 6th) with joint-chairmen Mark Lawn and Julian
Rhodes finalising the details of the contract offers. Under Football
League rules, the players must respond by the middle of next month.
===========================
City axe youth team manager
Chris Casper has lost his job as youth-team boss because of City's
play-off failure.
Casper was released after the club missed out on a potential £250,000
windfall from the end-of-season promotion lottery, which kicked off last
night.
Assistant manager Wayne Jacobs has also matched Stuart McCall by taking
a 20 per cent wage cut as the club's belt-tightening policy bites deep
among the backroom staff as well as players.
Casper's contract has not been renewed so David Wetherall will combine
running the youth side next season with the reserves.
McCall admitted that breaking the bad news to the former Bury boss, who
only joined City 11 months ago, was the hardest call of a difficult week.
He said: "Chris has been an outstanding member of our management team.
"He's done a great job with the youth lads, as well as working closely
with David with the reserves. He's also been to a lot of games scouting
for the first team and he's got good contacts over in Lancashire, which
we've used.
"This decision is nothing to do with his ability and his work. It's just
a cost-cutting measure that we had to make.
"Wethers has got a year left as a coach and the board said I've got to
lose a member of staff.
"We are losing out on at least a quarter of a million in revenue from
not making the play-offs and we've paid a big price for that.
Unfortunately, some have paid an even bigger price and lost their jobs."
Casper's departure will leave McCall in the same scenario he faced when
he came back to Valley Parade two years ago. Other money-saving
measures, such as restricting the number of overnight stays for
long-distance away games, will also be brought in.
McCall added: "We have to go back to basics. It's something we have to
accept. This is the way the world, and not just football, is going.
"We've seen dark days in the last ten years and been in administration
twice. I don't want to go anywhere near that again, so whatever we have
to do, we will do. I'm not scare-mongering but we know a lot of clubs
look like they could go to the wall and we don't want to be one of them."
McCall confirmed: "The offers we've made to 11 players have been greatly
reduced with the majority of them."
===========================
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/McCall-forced-to-wield-axe.5243924.jp
McCall forced to wield axe to meet reduced Bradford City budget
07 May 2009
By Richard Sutcliffe
THE cull at Bradford City is underway after Stuart McCall released five players and offered reduced terms to several other members of his squad.
The Bantams' failure to win promotion has led to a drastically reduced playing budget being drawn up for next season at Valley Parade.
Around a third is expected to be shaved off the wage bill and manager McCall has already moved by asking the club's highest earners to leave even though they have a year remaining on their current deals.
Among those being released this summer are goalkeeper Rhys Evans and long-serving defender Mark Bower, while also heading for the exit door are Paul Heckingbottom, Barry Conlon and Kyle Nix. The latter has, however, been told he can return for pre-season training if he does not find another club in the meantime.
Among the players McCall wants to keep are Matt Clarke, Joe Colbeck, Leon Osborne, Jon McLaughlin and player of the year Luke O'Brien with the quintet all due to be offered new deals.
Top scorer Peter Thorne will also sit down soon in the next few days with the City manager who is also keen to sign QPR defender Zesh Rehman, who spent the final three months of this season on loan in West Yorkshire, permanently.
Loanees Nicky Law, Dean Furman and Steve Jones have returned to Sheffield United, Rangers and Burnley, respectively but, again, McCall wants to keep hold of the trio.
That means he will need to persuade high-earners Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee and Michael Boulding that their futures lay elsewhere despite having a year remaining on their current deals.
Likewise, former Huddersfield Town midfielder Chris Brandon's future remains unclear.
===========================
No rift between McCall and Bower
Sat May 9, 2009 2:21 am (PDT)
Stuart McCall today dismissed the rumours of a personality clash with
Mark Bower.
The long-serving centre half was among the six senior players released
by City this week.
Bower's exit came as no surprise considering he did not start a league
game last season and spent three months at Luton on loan. He was also
understood to be the club's highest earner.
But McCall hit back at suggestions that the defender did not feature
because the pair had "fallen out".
The City boss said: "That couldn't be further from the truth. From our
relationship point of view, there has not been one problem and it's hard
to say goodbye to him.
"I've sat down with Mark and we spoke regularly on the phone when he was
at Luton. He understands the current climate at the football club.
"Cuts have to be made and the wage he was on made it impossible for us
to go anywhere near.
"But I respect what he's done for the club over the years and he's a
terrific professional. I hold him in the highest regard first and
foremost as a person as well as a player."
Bower found himself sidelined as McCall paired Graeme Lee with the
quicker Matt Clarke at centre half. His only full game was against Leeds
in the JP Trophy.
McCall felt that a Lee and Bower partnership would have lacked mobility,
while putting him alongside Clarke would have meant using two left-sided
players.
He added: "When Mark played with David (Wetherall), we did defend a
little bit deeper because of the lack of pace.
"Like Wethers, Graeme Lee is excellent aerially attacking the ball but
he can't come too high up the pitch. So Clarkey adds that extra pace
which is what he's got over Bowser."
Bower's campaign was affected early on by injury and illness. Then City
went on a run of eight clean sheets in 11 games before the rot set in.
McCall said: "Mark had not played enough football for half the season so
we wanted him to go away and get some regular games.
"TJ Moncur had gone back to Fulham and we'd brought Zesh Rehman in and
the books also had to be balanced.
"I've still got the responsibility from the club to watch the finances
and Luton were giving us half his wages."
When the Hatters' relegation was confirmed, Bower returned to Valley
Parade and made his 254th and final appearance for City as a sub against
Rotherham.
McCall said: "I wish Mark the very best for the future. I'm sure he will
get a new club and do well because of the person and dedicated pro that
he is."
===========================
Nix gutted at City rejection
Kyle Nix will refuse City's offer to come back for pre-season.
Stuart McCall released the midfielder last week, although the Valley
Parade door was left ajar with an invitation to return for training in
July if he failed to find another club before then.
But dejected Nix has made it clear that he will not be taking it up.
He said: "Thanks but no thanks. It would feel a bit belittling, to be
honest, to do that after being here for two years already.
"I don't think I need to prove myself again after playing 65 games for
the club.
"They've made a decision about me, and that's fair enough, so I can't
see how the situation would change."
Nix finished City's second-top scorer in his debut year with eight goals
from 44 appearances but he played less than half that second time around
following the arrival of Paul McLaren, Nicky Law and Dean Furman.
He made his first start in four months for the final home game but was
back on the bench last week against Chesterfield. Nix admitted he was
bracing himself for bad news over a contract.
"I haven't been involved this season so I went in there not expecting
anything," he said.
"I obviously haven't been part of the plans for the season just gone, so
I didn't expect to be part of the future.
"But I'm still gutted about it. They want young, hungry players for the
club next season and they are letting me go.
"Having come through a Premier League academy and then dropped out
completely, I know what it's like to go out of the game. That's what
makes me hungry.
"I gave two years of my all and nobody knows that more than the gaffer
and Jakes (Wayne Jacobs). I feel I've always shown the right attitude
and never thrown the towel in.
"You're not going to be every fan's cup of tea but hopefully they could
see what it meant to me. But I know the decision is not just down to the
gaffer and the people above may not rate me. That's football."
Nix was rescued from non-league football two years ago by McCall. He
initially survived on monthly deals before establishing himself in the
squad.
Nix said: "I'm really grateful to the gaffer for giving me the
opportunity in the first place. I was without a club and he brought me
back into league football and I owe a lot to him for that.
"The fans have always been good to me and it's nice to know that so many
were still behind me and wanted me to stay. Unfortunately the decision
wasn't down to them.
"But it was special to get such a great reception for my last game at
Valley Parade. Playing in front of 13,000 against Rotherham, my
home-town club, and getting clapped off like that by the fans was
brilliant.
"I wish Bradford all the best and I thank them for giving me another
chance. I just felt I had more to offer."
===========================
Transfer market on hold while City quartet mull over options
Posted by: "Darran Slator" darran@slator.freeserve.co.uk dslator
Mon May 11, 2009 9:54 am (PDT)
Like any keen shopper, Stuart McCall's head is full of lists.
Every day, another sheet full of players released by clubs arrives on
his desk. In these uncertain economic times, the market has never been
so full with surplus talent.
But while everybody is busy cutting costs, McCall is unable to dive
straight in. He might sound out an interested party or two but that is
as far as it can go for the City boss until he does the real business of
the summer and gets the big earners off the wage bill.
The club purse strings will be governed by if and when certain players
can be moved on.
So for now, McCall can only pencil in ideas for next term. Everything
hinges on what happens next with Graeme Lee, Paul McLaren, Michael
Boulding and Chris Brandon.
The first three have the option to go elsewhere, though the choice is in
the favour of the players. With Brandon, a lifelong City fan, there is
no release clause halfway through his deal but he is being asked to look
for a new club.
The details of all four have been circulated to every club in the bottom
two divisions.
It is not ideal but this is football we're talking about. And football,
like any other business, is feeling the financial squeeze.
The big earners should not be portrayed as fall guys. Their "crime" was
simply signing the contract that City were happy to put on the table 12
months ago.
McCall feels bad about trying to force them out of the door but admits
he has no choice after the overall budget was slashed by more than a third.
He is no stranger to this scenario. The same thing happened to him in
2002 as City plummeted towards the first administration.
McCall can see both sides of the fence but the club's interests must
come first.
He said: "The boys know that their deals will take up the majority of
next year's budget if they are still here.
"It's not their fault, it's just a fact with the budget being what it is.
"Those four lads have every right to come back next season but if they
are here, we're going to have to really get kids in.
"As captain, Graeme Lee has done a good job in the dressing room. He's a
good person and has enjoyed his time here but at the minute he's on too
much money for where we are with the budget.
"That also goes for Paul McLaren, Michael Boulding and Chris Brandon.
"They've all got a year left but the players that we would be looking to
bring in to replace them would be on half of what they are earning if
not less than that.
"Those four lads could still come back in the summer and we'd work with
them and do the best with what we can.
"But from our point of view, it's in the club's best interests for me to
build a young squad for next season and for them to move on."
McLaren is expected to sort something out. The classy midfielder has cut
a frustrated figure recently and admits he has not done himself justice.
Boulding, too, has been in and out the side and his goals dried up
crucially during the nine-match nightmare that killed City's promotion
hopes.
Lee, who was keen to make up for the near-miss next season, will leave
reluctantly. Brandon, possibly, even more so considering his lack of
action for the team he has always followed.
But there are no guarantees about anything. Particularly as City are
trying to hawk them around in such a buyers' market.
McCall added: "That will make it a little bit more difficult because
everyone is cutting their cloth accordingly.
"As players, you are on X amount and if another club will only offer you
half of that, is it worthwhile moving when you're already sat on the
contract that you've got?
"There is no blame attached to the players whatsoever. We've offered
them contracts and unfortunately it hasn't worked out.
"If it had done, we'd be going into the next division with experienced
players who have performed at a higher level. That's not been the case.
"The bottom line is that they've got two-year deals and there's a
possibility they will be back here for pre-season training.
"That makes it impossible for me to go out and make concrete offers for
players until I know what money is available.
"We can't make any real move on anyone until we know who's staying and
who's going."
***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***
Monday, May 04, 2009
L2 v Chesterfield (a) W2-0 May 2nd 2009
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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***
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***
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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Thursday, April 30, 2009
McCall Stays
McCall Stays
Official announcement
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1643927,00.html
"The Monday after Dagenham I was almost certainly gone," McCall told the club's official website. "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. I didn't want to be seen as walking away from the challenge.
"Since last Monday it's ebbed and flowed but meeting Mark (Lawn) and Julian (Rhodes) made my mind up."
BTW 2009/2010 fixtures to be released June 17th
===========================
Other reaction
T&A
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4333166.McCall_remains_as_City_boss/
BfB
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2009/04/30/stuart-stays/
YP
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/BREAKING-NEWS-Bradford-City-manager39s.5223319.jp
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/8022524.stm
Bradford City manager Stuart McCall has decided to stay at the League Two club.
The 44-year-old had been discussing his future over the past few days after initially saying he would leave if they did not reach the play-offs.
The former Scotland and Bantams midfielder will also be taking a pay cut, as the club seeks to reduce its overall costs.
McCall is due to meet with eight players on Thursday to discuss their current contracts with the club.
He must make "substantial" budget cuts next season if he decides to stay on at the club.
It is thought as much as a third of the League Two side's £1.9m player budget will need to be cut.
Bradford's budget is one of the highest in League Two but failure to make the play-offs means savings have to be made ahead of the new campaign.
That means that some of the top earners at the club are sure to move on, while the future of some of the coaching staff could also be in doubt.
Eighteen of the current squad are out of contract in the summer so it could be a very different Bradford side next season.
Joint chairman Mark Lawn told the Telegraph & Argus: "Stuart is facing some strong decisions. That's why he wants to talk to the players first before announcing anything about himself.
"He has got to talk to some of the players on two-year contracts. With the budget how it's going to be, if we kept them all we'd only have about six players.
"We wouldn't be able to afford any more pros, only kids - and that would be a recipe for disaster.
"Decisions have to be made and Stuart needs to talk to certain players to make them realise the situation."
The former Scotland international made his threat to leave in March after the Bantams' 4-1 away defeat by Bournemouth.
Because of a poor end to the season, which has seen McCall's side win just one in 10 games, Bradford will finish outside the play-offs.
Fans held up a 'Save our Stuart' banner during the 3-0 win over Rotherham and local figures, including sports minister and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, have also voiced their support.
===========================
Community Sunday May 3 2009
Come to Valley Parade this Sunday to enjoy a Fun Day out for all the family.
There will be the usual mix of football on the pitch and entertainment in
the Banqueting Suites from 9.00am to 5.00 pm. Entrance is FREE. Many
thanks to the Cooperative Group for sponsoring the event once again this
year.
The local Schools and junior clubs five-a-side tournaments will take place
from 9.00 am to 11.00 am and from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm. The main game on the
big pitch kicks off at 3.00 pm between Manningham All Stars and Thackley
Reserves.
Singers and dancers from BRADfactor entertainment will be in action from
11.00am to 1.30 pm, and over fifty arts and craft, leisure and information
stalls will be open from 10.00 to 3.00 pm in the Banqueting suites at
Valley Parade. Plus Hair braiding, Henna, Face Painting, Bouncy Castles
and Go-Carts for all the family.
COME AND ENJOY!
===========================
Deal me in, pleads Nix
Feisty Kyle Nix is pleading to beat the Valley Parade axe so he can
make up for a season of frustration.
Nix is one of the 18 City players who are sweating on their future as
contracts run out.
It has been a tough second year for the battling midfielder, who has
featured only sporadically after an impressive debut campaign.
But he reacted to a surprise call-up against Rotherham with a typically
all-action effort and is hoping that will convince the club he is worth
another deal.
Nix said: "I've always given 100 per cent, whether I'm having a good
game or not. The gaffer and the other lads know that I'm going to give
it my all if it's in training or playing.
"That's what I tried to do last week. It's what I've done all season,
even when I've not been involved."
Stuart McCall will finally end the speculation about his own future
today but the question marks will remain over his squad as City look to
slash their budget for next season.
Despite his personal frustration, Nix remains firmly behind his manager
– and wants to show that support on the field.
He added: "I'd love to still be here but even if I'm not, I think all
the lads want the gaffer to give it at least another year.
"You can't buy his passion and desire. You can't just put that into
somebody else.
"That's why this season I've been a little frustrated. People see my
passion and desire and I want to give 100 per cent to this club.
"But obviously, for whatever reason, I've been overlooked. I'm not
complaining because that's football but it's hard to take.
"I don't think I've really done that much wrong to be left out in the
cold as much as I have. It's a big squad but I don't think I've been
given a chance."
Nix had not begun a game since the home draw with Dagenham in early
December. It was only his ninth start of the season – and 18th
appearance in total – compared with 44 outings last term, when he netted
eight goals.
He added: "Saturday was another opportunity to prove a point. But I feel
I've proved points quite a few times, like when I was being given
one-month contracts.
"People have done well to stay in the team and I've had to bide my time
but I was so glad to get my chance against Rotherham.
"It was also nice to get a good ovation from the fans when I went off.
It's something to remember if that was my last home game."
City could finish eighth – and possibly just two points behind the
play-off positions – if they sign off with a win over Chesterfield at
Saltergate. But the near-miss is scant consolation for Nix, who scored a
cracker in last season's 1-1 draw there.
He added: "With eight to ten games to go, I thought we would definitely
be in the play-offs.
"I just can't believe we're going into the Chesterfield match and both
teams are playing for nothing. I'm just baffled by it.
"Nobody can explain the run we've been on but it's not down to the
gaffer – everyone's got to look at themselves in the mirror.
"Whoever is still here next year, it's up to them to put it right."
Official announcement
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1643927,00.html
"The Monday after Dagenham I was almost certainly gone," McCall told the club's official website. "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. I didn't want to be seen as walking away from the challenge.
"Since last Monday it's ebbed and flowed but meeting Mark (Lawn) and Julian (Rhodes) made my mind up."
BTW 2009/2010 fixtures to be released June 17th
===========================
Other reaction
T&A
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4333166.McCall_remains_as_City_boss/
BfB
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2009/04/30/stuart-stays/
YP
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/BREAKING-NEWS-Bradford-City-manager39s.5223319.jp
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/8022524.stm
Bradford City manager Stuart McCall has decided to stay at the League Two club.
The 44-year-old had been discussing his future over the past few days after initially saying he would leave if they did not reach the play-offs.
The former Scotland and Bantams midfielder will also be taking a pay cut, as the club seeks to reduce its overall costs.
McCall is due to meet with eight players on Thursday to discuss their current contracts with the club.
He must make "substantial" budget cuts next season if he decides to stay on at the club.
It is thought as much as a third of the League Two side's £1.9m player budget will need to be cut.
Bradford's budget is one of the highest in League Two but failure to make the play-offs means savings have to be made ahead of the new campaign.
That means that some of the top earners at the club are sure to move on, while the future of some of the coaching staff could also be in doubt.
Eighteen of the current squad are out of contract in the summer so it could be a very different Bradford side next season.
Joint chairman Mark Lawn told the Telegraph & Argus: "Stuart is facing some strong decisions. That's why he wants to talk to the players first before announcing anything about himself.
"He has got to talk to some of the players on two-year contracts. With the budget how it's going to be, if we kept them all we'd only have about six players.
"We wouldn't be able to afford any more pros, only kids - and that would be a recipe for disaster.
"Decisions have to be made and Stuart needs to talk to certain players to make them realise the situation."
The former Scotland international made his threat to leave in March after the Bantams' 4-1 away defeat by Bournemouth.
Because of a poor end to the season, which has seen McCall's side win just one in 10 games, Bradford will finish outside the play-offs.
Fans held up a 'Save our Stuart' banner during the 3-0 win over Rotherham and local figures, including sports minister and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, have also voiced their support.
===========================
Community Sunday May 3 2009
Come to Valley Parade this Sunday to enjoy a Fun Day out for all the family.
There will be the usual mix of football on the pitch and entertainment in
the Banqueting Suites from 9.00am to 5.00 pm. Entrance is FREE. Many
thanks to the Cooperative Group for sponsoring the event once again this
year.
The local Schools and junior clubs five-a-side tournaments will take place
from 9.00 am to 11.00 am and from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm. The main game on the
big pitch kicks off at 3.00 pm between Manningham All Stars and Thackley
Reserves.
Singers and dancers from BRADfactor entertainment will be in action from
11.00am to 1.30 pm, and over fifty arts and craft, leisure and information
stalls will be open from 10.00 to 3.00 pm in the Banqueting suites at
Valley Parade. Plus Hair braiding, Henna, Face Painting, Bouncy Castles
and Go-Carts for all the family.
COME AND ENJOY!
===========================
Deal me in, pleads Nix
Feisty Kyle Nix is pleading to beat the Valley Parade axe so he can
make up for a season of frustration.
Nix is one of the 18 City players who are sweating on their future as
contracts run out.
It has been a tough second year for the battling midfielder, who has
featured only sporadically after an impressive debut campaign.
But he reacted to a surprise call-up against Rotherham with a typically
all-action effort and is hoping that will convince the club he is worth
another deal.
Nix said: "I've always given 100 per cent, whether I'm having a good
game or not. The gaffer and the other lads know that I'm going to give
it my all if it's in training or playing.
"That's what I tried to do last week. It's what I've done all season,
even when I've not been involved."
Stuart McCall will finally end the speculation about his own future
today but the question marks will remain over his squad as City look to
slash their budget for next season.
Despite his personal frustration, Nix remains firmly behind his manager
– and wants to show that support on the field.
He added: "I'd love to still be here but even if I'm not, I think all
the lads want the gaffer to give it at least another year.
"You can't buy his passion and desire. You can't just put that into
somebody else.
"That's why this season I've been a little frustrated. People see my
passion and desire and I want to give 100 per cent to this club.
"But obviously, for whatever reason, I've been overlooked. I'm not
complaining because that's football but it's hard to take.
"I don't think I've really done that much wrong to be left out in the
cold as much as I have. It's a big squad but I don't think I've been
given a chance."
Nix had not begun a game since the home draw with Dagenham in early
December. It was only his ninth start of the season – and 18th
appearance in total – compared with 44 outings last term, when he netted
eight goals.
He added: "Saturday was another opportunity to prove a point. But I feel
I've proved points quite a few times, like when I was being given
one-month contracts.
"People have done well to stay in the team and I've had to bide my time
but I was so glad to get my chance against Rotherham.
"It was also nice to get a good ovation from the fans when I went off.
It's something to remember if that was my last home game."
City could finish eighth – and possibly just two points behind the
play-off positions – if they sign off with a win over Chesterfield at
Saltergate. But the near-miss is scant consolation for Nix, who scored a
cracker in last season's 1-1 draw there.
He added: "With eight to ten games to go, I thought we would definitely
be in the play-offs.
"I just can't believe we're going into the Chesterfield match and both
teams are playing for nothing. I'm just baffled by it.
"Nobody can explain the run we've been on but it's not down to the
gaffer – everyone's got to look at themselves in the mirror.
"Whoever is still here next year, it's up to them to put it right."
Monday, April 27, 2009
L2 v v Rotherham (h) W3-0 April 25th 2009
STUART McCALL admits the "humbling" support of Bradford City fans could
yet play a part in persuading him to stay at Valley Parade.
The Bantams manager will
**** decide by Monday ****
whether to quit after branding
his two-year reign as "a failure" following the club's almost certain
failure to reach the play-offs.
<Full article below>
==================
Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (2) 3 Thorne 12, 32, Jones 73
Rotherham (0) 0
Att: 13,242
Bradford C: 1. Rhys Evans, 2. Paul Arnison, 5. Graeme Lee, 33. Zeshan Rehman
(80), 19. Luke O'Brien, 22. Kyle Nix (67), 23. Dean Furman, 8. Lee Bullock,
24. Nicky Law, 25. Steve Jones (90), 10. Peter Thorne.
Subs: 4. Paul McLaren (90), 6. Mark Bower (80), 14. Michael Boulding, 15.
Joe Colbeck (67), 35. Paul Mullin.
Rotherham: 1. Andy Warrington, 5. Ian Sharps, 6. Nick Fenton, 12. Marc
Joseph (59), 2. Dale Tonge, 28. Jason Taylor (59), 4. Danny Harrison, 25.
Pablo Mills, 19. Jamie Green, 23. Reuben Reid (82), 20. Ryan Taylor.
Subs: 9. Mark Burchill (82), 10. Mark Hudson (59), 22. Drewe Broughton (59),
24. Andrew Nicholas, 30. Steven Cann (GK).
Stats: Bradford C - Rotherham
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 11 - 9
Shots off target: 5 - 7
Fouls: 14 - 6
Corners: 10 - 7
Ref: Andy Hall (West Midlands)
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Bullock (72 min)
Rotherham: Fenton (44 min)
Final match:
(A) Chesterfield, May 2, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
CITY WIN BUT PLAYOFFS OUT OF REACH
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City turned on the style to sign off at Valley Parade with their first win
in ten games.
It was too little too late in terms of the play-offs with Dagenham's victory
at Notts County putting a top-seven finish beyond them.
But at least the Bantams regained some pride - and produced their own show
of support for boss Stuart McCall.
Peter Thorne opened the scoring after 12 minutes with the faintest of
touches from Dean Furman's volley, though Rotherham were furiously
protesting that the striker was offside.
There was no doubt about his second 20 minutes later as Thorne struck with a
sweet volley after great play from Nicky Law.
The second half was one-way traffic and City would have racked up five or
six but for the outstanding Andy Warrington.
Rotherham's keeper pulled off four superb saves before he was finally beaten
by Steve Jones, a just reward for his lively showing.
The game finished as it had started with a huge chant for McCall. Now we
wait to see what his decision will be.
===========================
===========================
McCALL TO MEET CHAIRMEN - DECISION EARLY NEXT WEEK
By Richard Sutcliffe and Richard Wheatstone (YP)
Exclusive
STUART McCALL has promised to give Bradford City an answer over his future
by early next week.
The Bantams manager is mulling over whether to stay at Valley Parade after
branding his two-year reign as "a failure" following the club's almost
certain failure to reach the play-offs.
McCall insisted last month he would walk away if City did not finish in the
top seven of League Two and his subsequent comments after last weekend's
defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge hardly suggested there had been a softening
of his stance.
Despite that, Bradford hope the former Scotland international will stay and
honour the two-year contract that he signed in February.
What joint chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn are also mindful of,
however, is the need for a quick decision from McCall to ensure the club are
not left behind in terms of finalising their squad ahead of next season.
Rhodes said last night: "We have spoken to Stuart and told him that we need
a decision to be made as soon as possible. He has promised to get back to us
by early next week.
"What we don't want to end up in is a situation where the better players
have been signed by other clubs before we have made our move. There are also
several players out of contract this summer so decisions have to be made.
"If Stuart decides to stay, those decisions will be made by him. But if
Stuart decides to leave, then we will have to find a new manager who will
then make the decisions about next season's squad.
"Stuart is aware that time is pressing and that we need a decision as early
as possible."
McCall, who has confirmed to the Yorkshire Post he plans to sit down with
the two joint chairmen on Monday, took charge at Valley Parade in the summer
of 2007 and, after a difficult start, led the club to a 10th-place finish in
his first season.
Hopes were high of City winning promotion this season but a shocking run of
results since mid-March has condemned the club to another year in the
basement division. A section of the Valley Parade faithful have turned on
McCall but many remain loyal.
Alan Carling, chair of the Supporters' Trust, said: "Stuart is definitely
the best man for the job. People forget it is only his second season as a
manager, which is a very different discipline to being someone's assistant.
"What the club needs to do, and what Stuart needs to do, is to sit down and
see how things can be improved for next season."
Carling feels the blame for the run of just three points from the last nine
games cannot all be laid at McCall's door with poor refereeing decisions and
injuries playing a part. He added: "Stuart needs to be given more time to
learn from his mistakes and do things a bit differently next time around.
"We have suffered horrendously from injuries, which in League Two where
managers don't have the biggest squads, has a big impact on performances.
There have also been some catastrophic refereeing decisions given against
us, and bad luck has been a big contributing factor."
===========================
PENNEY NOT RUSHING INTO DECISION
Darlington manager Dave Penney has revealed he will not consider his future
until the Quakers have completed their campaign this season.
Penney has already been reportedly linked with the job at Bradford City,
should current manager Stuart McCall stick to his word and leave if the
Bantams fail to reach the play-offs.
But Penney told PA Sport: "When we went into administration I said I would
continue until the end of the season, go on holiday and get back and see
where we are as a club before making any decisions."
Former vice-chairman Raj Singh has tabled a bid to buy the troubled Quakers.
And when asked if a successful takeover of the club would increase his
chances of staying, Penney added: "It depends who comes in, there are a lot
of parameters, a lot of players may leave and there is a lot to look into."
===========================
From the T&A
Rueful Stuart McCall reckons that a nasty approach to referees gets
you further than being nice.
The City boss still feels aggrieved at the 'goals' his side have been
denied in the last three games.
McCall believes Peter Thorne could have had another three on his tally
and Michael Boulding was also denied a legitimate strike against Lincoln.
If the key calls had gone the other way, City could be sitting in a
play-off place now instead of praying for an absolute miracle.
McCall admits his policy of going easy on officials has ultimately done
him no favours.
He said: "I worked under Neil Warnock for a few years and learned good
and bad things off him. He would constantly blame officials for results
and I've never been into that.
"People say things like it can cost them a job and I've not followed
that. But you look at the last three games and there have been decisions
against us which have cost us maybe seven points.
"We should have been 2-0 up at Morecambe and I'm sure would have seen it
out. Then right on half-time against Lincoln, Boulders scores a goal
when he's a clear yard onside.
"And last week Thorney has a perfectly good header ruled out when the
referee has seen a foul from somewhere, not to mention another which was
wrongly given offside.
"The referee has not only got a decision wrong that's cost us the game –
he's cost me my dream and the club's dream of going to Wembley.
"Being nice to officials hasn't worked for me. I should have taken
Neil's approach instead."
McCall has already received three apologies this season from refereeing
boss David Allison about mistakes made by men in the middle.
The City chief said: "I've sent him the DVDs from certain matches and he
can't believe how the decisions have been so wrong.
"I never have been one of these managers who always blame refs. You see
Sir Alex (Ferguson) going mental over the penalty incident in the FA Cup
last week but you can watch it ten times and still not be sure.
"I'm always honest with the assessments on match officials and try to
give them good marks. So because I try to go the other way, it sounds
like I'm making excuses – but I'm not.
"I know David Moyes sent a load of DVDs to the FA last season with a
list of penalties Everton should have had. I could do the same sort of
thing but I know it won't get us anywhere.
"No beating round the bush, I've under-achieved and so have the team.
But if the correct decisions had been given in the last three games, we
would still be right in there and that's hard to take."
===========================
STUART McCALL admits the "humbling" support of Bradford City fans could
yet play a part in persuading him to stay at Valley Parade.
The Bantams manager will decide by Monday whether to quit after branding
his two-year reign as "a failure" following the club's almost certain
failure to reach the play-offs.
McCall insisted last month he would walk away if City did not finish in
the top seven of League Two and his comments after last weekend's defeat
at Dagenham hardly suggested there had been a softening of that stance.
Since then, however, support has come pouring in from fans and former
colleagues and McCall last night told the Yorkshire Post: "It has been
very difficult, though it has also been a very humbling week for me
personally. The e-mails and letters of support I have received since we
lost at Dagenham have really touched me.
"The vast majority have said I must not leave, while a couple said I
should give it one last go next season. There was only one that was
critical of me.
"He criticised my substitutions and accused me of being too negative
away from home. But then, at the end, even he wrote that he wanted me to
stay.
"To get support like that has really lifted me and it left me feeling
quite emotional.
"It has also been a nice surprise to get so many calls and texts from
ex-managers and ex-players that I know. They have made me look at
certain things in a different light.
"The important thing now, though, is that I do what is best for Bradford
City. If that means leaving, then so be it. I will decide over the weekend."
Joint chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn are keen for a quick decision
in case they have to find a new manager.
McCall, who only signed a two-year contract extension in February,
added: "It is a time to reflect and maybe I have put myself under too
much pressure. This season has been a major disappointment and there is
no getting away from that.
"I will have a long hard think about the situation over the weekend and
then speak to Mark and Julian on Monday. By then, I will have made my
decision."
If McCall does depart, he will become the seventh manager to leave
Valley Parade since 2000.
===========================
Here's a link to the Macca interview straight after the Rotherham game.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8018758.stm
===========================
Sir Alex Ferguson has told Stuart McCall "don't be stupid" by jacking
in the City helm.
McCall's future will be finalised in the next 24 hours after talks with
joint chairmen Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes.
McCall is expected to stay and work with a reduced wage budget next
term, though Lawn said it would still be among the top third in the
division.
Fans made their backing clear for the boss during Saturday's 3-0 home
win over Rotherham – City's first victory for ten games.
And McCall revealed that even Old Trafford supremo Fergie had been in
contact, telling him to finish the job.
He said: "Sir Alex sent an e-mail reminding me I've only been in the
game two minutes and get a bloomin' grip.
"I've had so many other managers telling me similar and saying not to do
anything stupid. (Rotherham boss) Mark Robins gave me a hug in the
tunnel afterwards and called me a nugget for talking about leaving.
"Last Monday morning I was 99.9 per cent certain I was going because I'd
failed. I've not given the fans what they hoped.
"No other club at this level has 12,000 following them. No other club
takes 1,500 to 2,000 away and there's a sense of letting those people down.
"But things have been put in perspective and I've had a proper
reflection. People say I wasn't a quitter as a player so why start now?
"Management is 24/7 and I take it home with me. I do need a break to
refresh the batteries but in two weeks' time when the season's over I'll
be desperate to do something again."
Lawn revealed the budget will be cut "quite substantially" from its
current £1.9m – a figure which is thought to include the coaching staff
and insurance fees as well as the squad wages.
He said: "We'll go right into the details with Stuart. It's only fair he
gets to see what the budget means and how much he can spend.
"Dagenham were on a third of our budget more or less, people like Barnet
lower than that.
"But it's still going to be in the top eight. Depending on the credit
crunch, some people will lose big sponsors so we might even be in the
top five or six.
"The last week has been hell and I'm feeling it like every fan. But give
me a few days to come round again."
===========================
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=46810838356
or search for
"City Forward! Mailing List"
***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***
yet play a part in persuading him to stay at Valley Parade.
The Bantams manager will
**** decide by Monday ****
whether to quit after branding
his two-year reign as "a failure" following the club's almost certain
failure to reach the play-offs.
<Full article below>
==================
Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (2) 3 Thorne 12, 32, Jones 73
Rotherham (0) 0
Att: 13,242
Bradford C: 1. Rhys Evans, 2. Paul Arnison, 5. Graeme Lee, 33. Zeshan Rehman
(80), 19. Luke O'Brien, 22. Kyle Nix (67), 23. Dean Furman, 8. Lee Bullock,
24. Nicky Law, 25. Steve Jones (90), 10. Peter Thorne.
Subs: 4. Paul McLaren (90), 6. Mark Bower (80), 14. Michael Boulding, 15.
Joe Colbeck (67), 35. Paul Mullin.
Rotherham: 1. Andy Warrington, 5. Ian Sharps, 6. Nick Fenton, 12. Marc
Joseph (59), 2. Dale Tonge, 28. Jason Taylor (59), 4. Danny Harrison, 25.
Pablo Mills, 19. Jamie Green, 23. Reuben Reid (82), 20. Ryan Taylor.
Subs: 9. Mark Burchill (82), 10. Mark Hudson (59), 22. Drewe Broughton (59),
24. Andrew Nicholas, 30. Steven Cann (GK).
Stats: Bradford C - Rotherham
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 11 - 9
Shots off target: 5 - 7
Fouls: 14 - 6
Corners: 10 - 7
Ref: Andy Hall (West Midlands)
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Bullock (72 min)
Rotherham: Fenton (44 min)
Final match:
(A) Chesterfield, May 2, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
CITY WIN BUT PLAYOFFS OUT OF REACH
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City turned on the style to sign off at Valley Parade with their first win
in ten games.
It was too little too late in terms of the play-offs with Dagenham's victory
at Notts County putting a top-seven finish beyond them.
But at least the Bantams regained some pride - and produced their own show
of support for boss Stuart McCall.
Peter Thorne opened the scoring after 12 minutes with the faintest of
touches from Dean Furman's volley, though Rotherham were furiously
protesting that the striker was offside.
There was no doubt about his second 20 minutes later as Thorne struck with a
sweet volley after great play from Nicky Law.
The second half was one-way traffic and City would have racked up five or
six but for the outstanding Andy Warrington.
Rotherham's keeper pulled off four superb saves before he was finally beaten
by Steve Jones, a just reward for his lively showing.
The game finished as it had started with a huge chant for McCall. Now we
wait to see what his decision will be.
===========================
===========================
McCALL TO MEET CHAIRMEN - DECISION EARLY NEXT WEEK
By Richard Sutcliffe and Richard Wheatstone (YP)
Exclusive
STUART McCALL has promised to give Bradford City an answer over his future
by early next week.
The Bantams manager is mulling over whether to stay at Valley Parade after
branding his two-year reign as "a failure" following the club's almost
certain failure to reach the play-offs.
McCall insisted last month he would walk away if City did not finish in the
top seven of League Two and his subsequent comments after last weekend's
defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge hardly suggested there had been a softening
of his stance.
Despite that, Bradford hope the former Scotland international will stay and
honour the two-year contract that he signed in February.
What joint chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn are also mindful of,
however, is the need for a quick decision from McCall to ensure the club are
not left behind in terms of finalising their squad ahead of next season.
Rhodes said last night: "We have spoken to Stuart and told him that we need
a decision to be made as soon as possible. He has promised to get back to us
by early next week.
"What we don't want to end up in is a situation where the better players
have been signed by other clubs before we have made our move. There are also
several players out of contract this summer so decisions have to be made.
"If Stuart decides to stay, those decisions will be made by him. But if
Stuart decides to leave, then we will have to find a new manager who will
then make the decisions about next season's squad.
"Stuart is aware that time is pressing and that we need a decision as early
as possible."
McCall, who has confirmed to the Yorkshire Post he plans to sit down with
the two joint chairmen on Monday, took charge at Valley Parade in the summer
of 2007 and, after a difficult start, led the club to a 10th-place finish in
his first season.
Hopes were high of City winning promotion this season but a shocking run of
results since mid-March has condemned the club to another year in the
basement division. A section of the Valley Parade faithful have turned on
McCall but many remain loyal.
Alan Carling, chair of the Supporters' Trust, said: "Stuart is definitely
the best man for the job. People forget it is only his second season as a
manager, which is a very different discipline to being someone's assistant.
"What the club needs to do, and what Stuart needs to do, is to sit down and
see how things can be improved for next season."
Carling feels the blame for the run of just three points from the last nine
games cannot all be laid at McCall's door with poor refereeing decisions and
injuries playing a part. He added: "Stuart needs to be given more time to
learn from his mistakes and do things a bit differently next time around.
"We have suffered horrendously from injuries, which in League Two where
managers don't have the biggest squads, has a big impact on performances.
There have also been some catastrophic refereeing decisions given against
us, and bad luck has been a big contributing factor."
===========================
PENNEY NOT RUSHING INTO DECISION
Darlington manager Dave Penney has revealed he will not consider his future
until the Quakers have completed their campaign this season.
Penney has already been reportedly linked with the job at Bradford City,
should current manager Stuart McCall stick to his word and leave if the
Bantams fail to reach the play-offs.
But Penney told PA Sport: "When we went into administration I said I would
continue until the end of the season, go on holiday and get back and see
where we are as a club before making any decisions."
Former vice-chairman Raj Singh has tabled a bid to buy the troubled Quakers.
And when asked if a successful takeover of the club would increase his
chances of staying, Penney added: "It depends who comes in, there are a lot
of parameters, a lot of players may leave and there is a lot to look into."
===========================
From the T&A
Rueful Stuart McCall reckons that a nasty approach to referees gets
you further than being nice.
The City boss still feels aggrieved at the 'goals' his side have been
denied in the last three games.
McCall believes Peter Thorne could have had another three on his tally
and Michael Boulding was also denied a legitimate strike against Lincoln.
If the key calls had gone the other way, City could be sitting in a
play-off place now instead of praying for an absolute miracle.
McCall admits his policy of going easy on officials has ultimately done
him no favours.
He said: "I worked under Neil Warnock for a few years and learned good
and bad things off him. He would constantly blame officials for results
and I've never been into that.
"People say things like it can cost them a job and I've not followed
that. But you look at the last three games and there have been decisions
against us which have cost us maybe seven points.
"We should have been 2-0 up at Morecambe and I'm sure would have seen it
out. Then right on half-time against Lincoln, Boulders scores a goal
when he's a clear yard onside.
"And last week Thorney has a perfectly good header ruled out when the
referee has seen a foul from somewhere, not to mention another which was
wrongly given offside.
"The referee has not only got a decision wrong that's cost us the game –
he's cost me my dream and the club's dream of going to Wembley.
"Being nice to officials hasn't worked for me. I should have taken
Neil's approach instead."
McCall has already received three apologies this season from refereeing
boss David Allison about mistakes made by men in the middle.
The City chief said: "I've sent him the DVDs from certain matches and he
can't believe how the decisions have been so wrong.
"I never have been one of these managers who always blame refs. You see
Sir Alex (Ferguson) going mental over the penalty incident in the FA Cup
last week but you can watch it ten times and still not be sure.
"I'm always honest with the assessments on match officials and try to
give them good marks. So because I try to go the other way, it sounds
like I'm making excuses – but I'm not.
"I know David Moyes sent a load of DVDs to the FA last season with a
list of penalties Everton should have had. I could do the same sort of
thing but I know it won't get us anywhere.
"No beating round the bush, I've under-achieved and so have the team.
But if the correct decisions had been given in the last three games, we
would still be right in there and that's hard to take."
===========================
STUART McCALL admits the "humbling" support of Bradford City fans could
yet play a part in persuading him to stay at Valley Parade.
The Bantams manager will decide by Monday whether to quit after branding
his two-year reign as "a failure" following the club's almost certain
failure to reach the play-offs.
McCall insisted last month he would walk away if City did not finish in
the top seven of League Two and his comments after last weekend's defeat
at Dagenham hardly suggested there had been a softening of that stance.
Since then, however, support has come pouring in from fans and former
colleagues and McCall last night told the Yorkshire Post: "It has been
very difficult, though it has also been a very humbling week for me
personally. The e-mails and letters of support I have received since we
lost at Dagenham have really touched me.
"The vast majority have said I must not leave, while a couple said I
should give it one last go next season. There was only one that was
critical of me.
"He criticised my substitutions and accused me of being too negative
away from home. But then, at the end, even he wrote that he wanted me to
stay.
"To get support like that has really lifted me and it left me feeling
quite emotional.
"It has also been a nice surprise to get so many calls and texts from
ex-managers and ex-players that I know. They have made me look at
certain things in a different light.
"The important thing now, though, is that I do what is best for Bradford
City. If that means leaving, then so be it. I will decide over the weekend."
Joint chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn are keen for a quick decision
in case they have to find a new manager.
McCall, who only signed a two-year contract extension in February,
added: "It is a time to reflect and maybe I have put myself under too
much pressure. This season has been a major disappointment and there is
no getting away from that.
"I will have a long hard think about the situation over the weekend and
then speak to Mark and Julian on Monday. By then, I will have made my
decision."
If McCall does depart, he will become the seventh manager to leave
Valley Parade since 2000.
===========================
Here's a link to the Macca interview straight after the Rotherham game.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8018758.stm
===========================
Sir Alex Ferguson has told Stuart McCall "don't be stupid" by jacking
in the City helm.
McCall's future will be finalised in the next 24 hours after talks with
joint chairmen Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes.
McCall is expected to stay and work with a reduced wage budget next
term, though Lawn said it would still be among the top third in the
division.
Fans made their backing clear for the boss during Saturday's 3-0 home
win over Rotherham – City's first victory for ten games.
And McCall revealed that even Old Trafford supremo Fergie had been in
contact, telling him to finish the job.
He said: "Sir Alex sent an e-mail reminding me I've only been in the
game two minutes and get a bloomin' grip.
"I've had so many other managers telling me similar and saying not to do
anything stupid. (Rotherham boss) Mark Robins gave me a hug in the
tunnel afterwards and called me a nugget for talking about leaving.
"Last Monday morning I was 99.9 per cent certain I was going because I'd
failed. I've not given the fans what they hoped.
"No other club at this level has 12,000 following them. No other club
takes 1,500 to 2,000 away and there's a sense of letting those people down.
"But things have been put in perspective and I've had a proper
reflection. People say I wasn't a quitter as a player so why start now?
"Management is 24/7 and I take it home with me. I do need a break to
refresh the batteries but in two weeks' time when the season's over I'll
be desperate to do something again."
Lawn revealed the budget will be cut "quite substantially" from its
current £1.9m – a figure which is thought to include the coaching staff
and insurance fees as well as the squad wages.
He said: "We'll go right into the details with Stuart. It's only fair he
gets to see what the budget means and how much he can spend.
"Dagenham were on a third of our budget more or less, people like Barnet
lower than that.
"But it's still going to be in the top eight. Depending on the credit
crunch, some people will lose big sponsors so we might even be in the
top five or six.
"The last week has been hell and I'm feeling it like every fan. But give
me a few days to come round again."
===========================
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=46810838356
or search for
"City Forward! Mailing List"
***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***
Thursday, April 23, 2009
McCall : Stay or go?
===========================
Bradford City count the cost of failing to achieve ambitions
JOINT chairman Mark Lawn last night warned that Bradford City's playing
budget for next season will have to be dramatically reduced following
the failure to win promotion.
City have suffered a horrendous end to the campaign with the last nine
games having yielded just three points to leave manager Stuart McCall
contemplating his future.
The Bantams chief suggested last month that if his side failed to finish
in the top seven then he would walk away in the summer.
And his subsequent comments after Saturday's defeat at Dagenham &
Redbridge hardly pointed to a change of heart with McCall admitting: "I
just feel I have let everyone down – the club, the fans and my own family.
"The wheels have come off and that is my responsibility. Unfortunately,
I have not been able to put them back on."
Mathematically, City could still clinch a play-off place but everyone at
Valley Parade is preparing for another season in League Two. Lawn and
co-owner Julian Rhodes plan to sit down with the former Scotland
international, who only signed a new two-year deal in February, after
the final game of the season against Chesterfield on May 2 to discuss
the way forward.
But the City joint chairman, who recently loaned the club £1m to cover
the cost of chasing promotion this term, has warned that whoever is in
charge will have to work on a reduced budget.
Lawn told the /Yorkshire Post/: "Stuart still has a two-year contract
with the club and the plan is to sit down with him and see how he feels.
"Often, emotion can take over straight after a game when a manager is
talking to the press so we will have to wait and see what Stuart has to say.
"Obviously, everyone is very disappointed with how the season has turned
out, probably none more so than me. Myself, Julian and his father all
sat down at the start of the season and decided to push the boat out to
try and win promotion.
"Unfortunately, it has not worked and I put in the £1m (loan) to cover
that deficit recently.
"Basically, I have put my children's inheritance on the line and I
simply have not got another £1m to do the same for next season, which
means the club will have to operate within a smaller budget."
Bradford's wage bill this season is believed to have been the highest in
League Two, just ahead of both Shrewsbury Town and Darlington with Luton
Town also having been among the highest payers in the basement division.
Lawn declined to reveal the size of the wage bill at Valley Parade but
did add: "The budget will still be competitive next season and certainly
similar to what most other clubs in the top half have been operating with.
"But there will be some clubs that, in terms of wages, we might not be
able to compete with such as Rotherham because we simply cannot afford
to push the boat out again like we have done this time."
It looks like being another hectic summer at Valley Parade with several
members of McCall's squad being out of contract in June.
Some players persuaded to drop down to the basement division a year ago
also have clauses in their current deals whereby they can leave at the
end of this season if City fail to win promotion.
It is the future of McCall, however, that is most pressing in the minds
of supporters and Lawn continued: "If caring about the club was a
guarantee of success then Bradford City would be above Manchester United
right now.
"Stuart is down, as we all are. And if we could put our finger on where
it has all gone wrong then we would have sorted it out by now.
"When we beat Aldershot (on March 7), we thought we would be unlucky not
to get automatic promotion. But it has just not happened."
Lawn, who joined the board in 2007, is at pains to stress that it is not
all doom and gloom at Bradford in terms of the future with more than
9,500 fans having already bought season-tickets for 2009-10.
He added: "What I will say to Bradford City fans is we are here for the
long term and we will turn it round."
===========================
I have just been able to manage to post Stuart's interview on Radio Leeds on YouTube as I was in the perfect position to video it.
The link to the clip is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYWKIGhyb0
===========================
Mark, Neil Warnock feels Stuart is a young inexperienced manager...see his words from a recent article in the independant.
"The other promotion places are up for grabs but I'd love to see Keith Hill, who played for me at Plymouth, take Rochdale up. I think they were last promoted 40 years ago. He is one of the last people you'd think would become a manager, but he's done brilliantly. Another old boy involved is Stuart McCall. I hear he's said he may call it a day if Bradford are not promoted but that is what you get when you are a young manager starting off. You get frustrated at times, but Stuart is a super coach. He was tremendous for me at Sheffield United and, irrespective of whether they go up, Bradford can only be a better place with Stuart around. I hope he understands it is all a matter of experience as he will go on to bigger things. When you are a young guy you do let disappointment get to you too much."
===========================
McCall: Jakes has been a rock
Stuart McCall today defended assistant manager Wayne Jacobs and
declared: I wish all my other signings had been as good for me.
McCall is keen to destroy the notion that City have come up short this
season because he has not had experienced back-up.
Some have suggested he should have called in an older hand to help when
the going got sticky.
But McCall is adamant that Jacobs has been the perfect number two – and
pointed to City's recent history as evidence that a youthful partnership
can pay off.
He said: "You only have to look back at the last 20-30 years. The four
or five pairings that have done well were all young.
"Roy McFarland and Mick Jones were here when I started, then Trevor
Cherry and Terry Yorath. Kammy (Chris Kamara) was in charge with Martin
Hunter and Jags (Paul Jewell) had Chris Hutchings. None of those
managers had the experience behind them that people are talking about.
"Jakes has been an absolute rock of support. Nobody could ask for a
better assistant.
"He is a very, very good coach who knows and understands the game and
he's certainly not a yes man in any way."
The likes of Terry Dolan have been touted as a back-up with plenty of
lower-league experience but McCall believes that Jacobs has become a
soft target with disenchanted fans who are reluctant to attack him
personally.
He added: "It's a cop out. There are many different reasons why we
haven't succeeded this season but that's definitely not one of them.
"It's the easiest thing in the world to point fingers. That's the blame
culture we live in.
"People don't want to criticise me so they blame somebody else.
"Certain things haven't gone to plan like a couple of players I've
brought in haven't paid off. But there are far bigger factors than
having no experienced older man alongside me.
"Jakes and Wethers (David Wetherall) have been outstanding in their
commitment. Wayne has sure done far more for me than I did for Neil
Warnock at Sheffield United. His dedication to the job has been over and
beyond what I could expect and I just wish all my other signings had
worked as well."
===========================
McCALL WON'T CALL IT A DAY
22/04/2009
Football Spy
Stuart McCALL is ready to do a U-turn and stay with Bradford - after being swamped by letters from fans.
Bantams legend McCall has been talking of leaving after his side slipped out of the promotion race, but the response from supporters is giving him a change of heart. McCall opened discussions on his future with the board last night, but insiders believe he will carry on next season and honour his new two year contract - rather than let down the fans.
===========================
Daley: Please stay Stu
Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:28 pm (PDT)
Omar Daley is desperate to play for Stuart McCall again at City.
The Jamaican flyer has been ruled out until November after an operation
to repair the damaged cruciate ligament in his right knee.
And he is keeping his fingers crossed that McCall will still be the man
in charge when his comeback date finally dawns.
Despite missing the last two months, Daley has been voted into the
League Two team of the season by fellow players and insists a lot of the
credit for that should go to his boss. So he is urging McCall to think
twice about his threat to walk away.
Daley said: "If anyone knows the gaffer, he's a winner. It must be so
frustrating for him to see the position the team is in.
"He's a young manager who is eager to achieve big things and I think he
will.
"The understanding between the gaffer and me has been really good. He
might be on the sideline but he coaches with a passion.
"At first when he'd just come in, I didn't realise that and I used to
get angry whenever he said things to me. But I soon realised that he is
a passionate coach and needed you to do well.
"Hopefully the situation will be resolved quickly – and I'm hoping he's
going to still be at this club because he's really settled me in."
Daley's absence has been one of the biggest factors in City's
spectacular slump. In the 13 games since he was stretchered off against
Darlington in mid-February, they have picked up just eight points to
crash out of the promotion reckoning.
The fear his lightning pace on the ball strikes in opponents is evident
with his selection to the division's elite.
Daley added: "Whenever I play in a game, I go out to terrorise teams. It
doesn't always work but I'm happy that people can see the effort that I
try to put in for this team.
"I do not treat it like a big joke. I really take my job seriously and
Stuart McCall and the coaching staff have really helped. I have to give
them the praise.
"I'm injured and frustrated that I'm not playing but I'm not losing my
head.
"I had the offer to go home early to Jamaica but I'm happy to stay here.
That shows how settled I am."
===========================
Graeme Lee believes the final home game gives City's players and fans
the perfect chance to show how much Stuart McCall means to them.
The skipper is hoping that McCall will be persuaded to stay on at Valley
Parade for next season – and he reckons Saturday's clash with Rotherham
is the ideal stage for everyone to get behind him.
Lee said: "The manager is the right man for the job. He's the man to
take this club forward and we just hope and pray that he does stay.
"I'd like to think that this game is the chance to really get behind
him. I'm sure the fans will show what he means to everyone.
"As captain, I want him to carry on and finish the job off here. I
haven't spoken to him one-to-one on what his thoughts are yet but I'd
like to think he can be talked round into staying.
"He's got such a passion and love for this club and it would be a big
loss if the gaffer did move on."
Lee admitted the players were guilty of not rewarding the boss with at
least a play-off spot.
He said: "You can understand him being so frustrated. We've let him down
as a team and he probably feels he should take the blame.
"We haven't done ourselves justice and know we should have done much
better. It's so disappointing and frustrating to look back at what could
and should have happened this season.
"We'll be trying to finish off well in the last two games and hopefully
that, as well as the reaction of the fans, will persuade the manager to
give it another go."
Lee has recovered from the tight thigh muscle he suffered against
Dagenham and could line up this weekend alongside Zesh Rehman.
With City still not out of it mathematically, McCall will resist the
chance to throw in youngsters but he has promised Rehman a start at
centre half.
McCall said: "We've played Zesh at right back and left back and, to be
fair, he's only had two games in the centre. He had a tough time here
against Lincoln but that was not at his strongest position."
Dean Furman, who won the T&A most consistent player title at this week's
awards dinner, is back in training. He has missed the last three games.
McCall anticipates a fierce Yorkshire derby against a Millers side who
would be chasing an automatic promotion place if they had not been
docked 17 points.
The City boss said: "Mark Robins has done an outstanding job to keep
them right at it and it won't be an end-of-season game.
===========================
*Bradford City joint chairman Mark Lawn has told BBC Radio Leeds that he
is hopeful manager Stuart McCall will stay at Valley Parade after all.*
McCall said last month that he would walk away if Bradford failed to
make the League Two play-offs.
Tentative talks were first held between McCall and the board on Tuesday.
And Lawn said on Thursday that indications given by McCall led them to
believe that their manager is now happier with life at City.
Lawn also stated that McCall had not handed in his resignation.
More discussions are planned with the City boss as the directors want to
go through next season's player budget.
McCall has also confirmed that he will be sitting down with Julian
Rhodes and Mark Lawn after the Chesterfield match to review the season
and discuss future matters.
Fans are also doing what they can to convince McCall to stay - giant
banners begging the City manager not to go have been made and will be
displayed on Saturday at the final home league game of the season.
Monday, April 20, 2009
L2 v Dag & Red (a) April 18th 2009
Coca-Cola League Two
Dag & Red (0) 3 Saunders 57, Benson 81, Strevens 86
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 1,883
Dagenham & Redbridge: 6. David Button, 19. Danny Foster, 2. Magnus
Okuonghae, 34. Mark Arber, 12. Scott Griffiths, 7. Sam Saunders (86), 25.
Solomon Taiwo, 33. Peter Gain, 3. Matt Ritchie (77), 14. Paul Benson (90),
18. Ben Strevens.
Subs: 27. David Hogan (GK), 8. Glen Southam (77), 15. Anwar Uddin, 22.
Graeme Montgomery (90), 30. Jamie Guy (86).
Bradford C: 1. Rhys Evans, 2. Paul Arnison, 5. Graeme Lee (61), 12. Matthew
Clarke, 19. Luke O'Brien, 11. Chris Brandon (60), 4. Paul McLaren, 8. Lee
Bullock, 25. Steve Jones (73), 35. Paul Mullin, 10. Peter Thorne.
Subs: 6. Mark Bower (61), 14. Michael Boulding (73), 15. Joe Colbeck, 24.
Nicky Law (60), 33. Zeshan Rehman.
Stats: Dag & Red - Bradford C
Possession: 52 - 48%
Shots on target: 9 - 1
Shots off target: 4 - 5
Fouls: 9 - 12
Corners: 6 - 3
Ref: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire)
Yellow cards: None
Last two matches:
(H) Rotherham, Saturday April 25, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
(A) Chesterfield, Saturday May 2, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
===========================
McCALL PONDERS FUTURE
Bradford City boss Stuart McCall admitted he might well walk away from the
club at the end of the season after his side were beaten 3-0 at Dagenham.
McCall had stated prior to this match he would leave Valley Parade if his
side did not make the play-offs. And goals from Sam Saunders, Paul Benson
and Ben Strevens left the Bantams four points away from seventh with just
two games remaining.
He said: "I'm going to sit down at the end of the season, I gave myself two
years and have underachieved and failed.
"Our wage budget is right up there with the top three definitely but I've
let the club down. I'll speak to (joint chairmen) Mark (Lawn) and Julian
(Rhodes) and see what goes from there."
McCall walked over to speak to the travelling Bradford fans at the end of
the game and revealed what he said afterwards, he added: "I just apologised
for how things have worked out this season and in this game.
"They have given us great support and when there's the tiniest glimpse of a
chance of the play-offs, you've got to go for it."
===========================
DAGGERS STAB DOUBT INTO McCALL FUTURE
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Dagenham & Redbridge 3, Bradford City 0
You didn't need to be a mind reader to see how Stuart McCall was feeling.
The emotion was etched over his face as he swallowed hard to hold back the
tears during the post-match press chats.
Minutes earlier, his heart was on his sleeve as the City boss walked towards
the away end to console in defeat with the fans. His fans.
The message to them was simple: "You didn't deserve that and neither did
we."
And now it looks a certainty that McCall doesn't need it either.
All the stress, the strain and, ultimately, the crushing disappointment of
seeing the club, his club, falling short again.
McCall did not tender his resignation at the final whistle but his comments
straight afterwards sounded like it.
It's difficult to see how the City chairmen, if they want to, will succeed
in changing his mind when they all sit down two games from now.
McCall looked and sounded like a man who had nothing more to give. Every
ounce of effort and determination has been drained away by this appalling
nine-game run.
If he quits, some cynics may see it as running away. Nothing could be
further from the truth.
A driven individual as a player, his approach in his first management job
has been exactly the same. And two years down the line, he feels he has
failed the City public. His City public.
As McCall rightly pointed out, Saturday was a microcosm of City's season.
Good - no, make that great - scoring chances scorned; a blatantly wrong
decision against them; awful defending to turn an uneven final scoreline
into a shockingly lop-sided one.
The game was effectively up with the referee's whistle to signify a foul
that never was on debutant home keeper David Button.
Peter Thorne was mid-celebration, as he had been eight days earlier at
Morecambe, when the official intervened to rule out his header for a
supposed foul by Paul Mullin. Yet nobody from Dagenham had complained.
Button later confirmed to McCall that he had simply misjudged the flight of
the cross from Steve Jones and slipped in the melee of bodies. Those were
not the words the distraught gaffer wanted to hear.
Like Morecambe, the home side rode their luck and cashed in soon after with
a goal of their own. From 1-0 up to 1-0 down; City's hopes had blown away.
The script was all too familiar for the Bantams and the 434 fans who had
made the trek south to keep the dream alive.
How ironic that the big boys of League Two - the club who can boast home
attendances others can only fantasise about - were finally put to bed in
front of their smallest audience of the season.
But then 1,800 is par for the course for Dagenham, whose wage budget for
players is less than half of City's. And therein lies the problem.
You don't have to be a City fan to be mystified by the current collapse.
Supporters everywhere cannot believe how they have fallen apart so
spectacularly over the last six weeks.
A Daggers supporter turned to me and asked: "Look at the team you've got.
You should be winning this league by 20 points."
A season of "under-achievement" is the polite way of putting it. Decent
players with decent reputations have not done themselves anywhere near
justice.
Which is why McCall, having put his squad together, feels he should carry
the can for their shortcomings.
Not that Saturday was the meek roll-over that the final margin of defeat may
suggest. Far from it.
With the stakes so high for both sides, City had to be up for the battle and
prepared to meet Dagenham yard for yard.
That's how it's got to be against John Still's lot. They are like a street
fighter who will use anything to gain an advantage.
The ball was whipped about the pitch at 100 miles per hour. Tackles flew in;
throw-ins taken quickly just to keep the game rattling along. Every sinew is
strained to keep pace with this lively young bunch.
It did not make for the most aesthetic of football games but it sure was an
exciting one.
After 20 minutes of frenzied stalemate, the chances suddenly came in a
bundle. Two fell for City, both headers which should have been buried.
Chris Brandon, back in midfield, started a bright move with one of several
positive touches on halfway. Jones and Lee Bullock combined neatly down the
left before the winger stood up the perfect cross for Brandon running in
unmarked at the far post.
He shaped to direct the ball downwards but did so too much and the ball
cannoned off the hard turf in the goalmouth and over the Dagenham bar.
Within a minute, Peter Gain let rip at the other end. The shot scorched past
Rhys Evans but fortunately Paul Arnison, another player back in favour, was
in the perfect spot to block on the line, although I doubt he knew much
about it.
Back we went with City on the offensive to force their first corner. Paul
McLaren picked out Peter Thorne but, with Button blocked out of contention
by Mullin, City's top scorer ballooned the header over.
Two gilt-edged opportunities down the plug hole and we all feared what would
happen next. But City rode those blows and seemed to have fashioned the
perfect answer nine minutes into the second half.
Another inviting cross from Jones completely deceived the nervy Button, who
fell to the floor as Thorne crashed home the header from close range. Then
came Pat Miller's whistle ...
Graeme Lee was struggling with a hip injury and City needed to make a
change. But before that happened, Sam Saunders cut in from the left wing to
seize on Lee's hesitancy and use the room for a crashing drive into the top
corner of the net.
Matt Ritchie nodded against the bar and Ben Strevens scooped over from eight
yards out as Dagenham pushed to put the game beyond the stunned visitors.
City's approach was growing more frantic as panic set in. Route one was the
only order of the day, Mullin's bonce battered by the constant flow of high
balls sent towering in his direction.
His shout for a penalty was ignored and then Bullock looped a header against
the far post. That proved City's final chance.
Strevens missed another chance but then made no mistake when Paul Benson
sent him free on goal. City were in tatters.
The misery was complete when Evans made a complete hash of claiming a
through-ball and coughed it up for Strevens to tap in.
McCall, his head down, made for the City fans. Unless there is a dramatic
sea change, it seems that they won't be seeing much more of him.
Attendance: 1,883
===========================
Crushed Stuart McCall has admitted: I've let everyone down.
The City boss edged nearer the Valley Parade exit after Saturday's loss
at Dagenham effectively slammed the door on the play-offs.
City dropped to 11th spot – their lowest position of the season – and
are now four points off seventh with only two games left.
McCall will sit down with the two chairmen after the final match at
Chesterfield to discuss his position but it looks like his mind is
already made up.
He said: "This has been mental anguish for me; mental torture. We've
massively under-achieved as a team and I've under-achieved as a manager.
"I just feel I've let everyone down; the club, the fans, my own family –
even my little lad, who thought it was nailed on that we were going to
Wembley.
"I put this squad together and felt we'd have a good crack at promotion.
I felt we'd definitely finish in the top seven – that was the minimum of
what would be required.
"In the first two-thirds of the season, we scored lots of goals and
played some good stuff. We were always around the top three or four.
"But nobody could have predicted the horrendous run we've had in the
last nine games. It's hit us hard.
"The wheels have come off and that's my responsibility. Unfortunately
I've not been able to put them back on."
City's winless slump stretched to a ninth game as Dagenham drilled three
second-half goals. But they had missed good chances before that and saw
a legitimate-looking Peter Thorne header chalked off for a foul on home
keeper David Button.
McCall said: "Saturday was a picture of the last nine games. We missed
three well acceptable chances, there was poor defending and a crucial
decision went against us.
"The ref thought that Mullers (Paul Mullin) had impeded the keeper but
he didn't do anything. They haven't complained about it and afterwards
the keeper said he'd just slipped.
"For the first hour, you wouldn't have said we were a team lacking in
spirit or confidence or anything. We looked a decent side.
"Decisions like that don't just change the outcome of games but seasons.
The referee said he would apologise if he got it wrong but that doesn't
help anyone.
"But it's all right saying this and that. The bottom line is I've not
produced. I've put this squad together this season and not been able to
deliver."
Omar Daley, whose cruciate injury in February looks a significant reason
behind City's sudden collapse, has been named in the PFA League Two team
of the season.
McCall said: "There have been factors, like the injuries at crucial
times, but with the standard of player we've got at this club, it's
still hugely frustrating and disappointing that we are where we are."
Dag & Red (0) 3 Saunders 57, Benson 81, Strevens 86
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 1,883
Dagenham & Redbridge: 6. David Button, 19. Danny Foster, 2. Magnus
Okuonghae, 34. Mark Arber, 12. Scott Griffiths, 7. Sam Saunders (86), 25.
Solomon Taiwo, 33. Peter Gain, 3. Matt Ritchie (77), 14. Paul Benson (90),
18. Ben Strevens.
Subs: 27. David Hogan (GK), 8. Glen Southam (77), 15. Anwar Uddin, 22.
Graeme Montgomery (90), 30. Jamie Guy (86).
Bradford C: 1. Rhys Evans, 2. Paul Arnison, 5. Graeme Lee (61), 12. Matthew
Clarke, 19. Luke O'Brien, 11. Chris Brandon (60), 4. Paul McLaren, 8. Lee
Bullock, 25. Steve Jones (73), 35. Paul Mullin, 10. Peter Thorne.
Subs: 6. Mark Bower (61), 14. Michael Boulding (73), 15. Joe Colbeck, 24.
Nicky Law (60), 33. Zeshan Rehman.
Stats: Dag & Red - Bradford C
Possession: 52 - 48%
Shots on target: 9 - 1
Shots off target: 4 - 5
Fouls: 9 - 12
Corners: 6 - 3
Ref: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire)
Yellow cards: None
Last two matches:
(H) Rotherham, Saturday April 25, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
(A) Chesterfield, Saturday May 2, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
===========================
McCALL PONDERS FUTURE
Bradford City boss Stuart McCall admitted he might well walk away from the
club at the end of the season after his side were beaten 3-0 at Dagenham.
McCall had stated prior to this match he would leave Valley Parade if his
side did not make the play-offs. And goals from Sam Saunders, Paul Benson
and Ben Strevens left the Bantams four points away from seventh with just
two games remaining.
He said: "I'm going to sit down at the end of the season, I gave myself two
years and have underachieved and failed.
"Our wage budget is right up there with the top three definitely but I've
let the club down. I'll speak to (joint chairmen) Mark (Lawn) and Julian
(Rhodes) and see what goes from there."
McCall walked over to speak to the travelling Bradford fans at the end of
the game and revealed what he said afterwards, he added: "I just apologised
for how things have worked out this season and in this game.
"They have given us great support and when there's the tiniest glimpse of a
chance of the play-offs, you've got to go for it."
===========================
DAGGERS STAB DOUBT INTO McCALL FUTURE
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Dagenham & Redbridge 3, Bradford City 0
You didn't need to be a mind reader to see how Stuart McCall was feeling.
The emotion was etched over his face as he swallowed hard to hold back the
tears during the post-match press chats.
Minutes earlier, his heart was on his sleeve as the City boss walked towards
the away end to console in defeat with the fans. His fans.
The message to them was simple: "You didn't deserve that and neither did
we."
And now it looks a certainty that McCall doesn't need it either.
All the stress, the strain and, ultimately, the crushing disappointment of
seeing the club, his club, falling short again.
McCall did not tender his resignation at the final whistle but his comments
straight afterwards sounded like it.
It's difficult to see how the City chairmen, if they want to, will succeed
in changing his mind when they all sit down two games from now.
McCall looked and sounded like a man who had nothing more to give. Every
ounce of effort and determination has been drained away by this appalling
nine-game run.
If he quits, some cynics may see it as running away. Nothing could be
further from the truth.
A driven individual as a player, his approach in his first management job
has been exactly the same. And two years down the line, he feels he has
failed the City public. His City public.
As McCall rightly pointed out, Saturday was a microcosm of City's season.
Good - no, make that great - scoring chances scorned; a blatantly wrong
decision against them; awful defending to turn an uneven final scoreline
into a shockingly lop-sided one.
The game was effectively up with the referee's whistle to signify a foul
that never was on debutant home keeper David Button.
Peter Thorne was mid-celebration, as he had been eight days earlier at
Morecambe, when the official intervened to rule out his header for a
supposed foul by Paul Mullin. Yet nobody from Dagenham had complained.
Button later confirmed to McCall that he had simply misjudged the flight of
the cross from Steve Jones and slipped in the melee of bodies. Those were
not the words the distraught gaffer wanted to hear.
Like Morecambe, the home side rode their luck and cashed in soon after with
a goal of their own. From 1-0 up to 1-0 down; City's hopes had blown away.
The script was all too familiar for the Bantams and the 434 fans who had
made the trek south to keep the dream alive.
How ironic that the big boys of League Two - the club who can boast home
attendances others can only fantasise about - were finally put to bed in
front of their smallest audience of the season.
But then 1,800 is par for the course for Dagenham, whose wage budget for
players is less than half of City's. And therein lies the problem.
You don't have to be a City fan to be mystified by the current collapse.
Supporters everywhere cannot believe how they have fallen apart so
spectacularly over the last six weeks.
A Daggers supporter turned to me and asked: "Look at the team you've got.
You should be winning this league by 20 points."
A season of "under-achievement" is the polite way of putting it. Decent
players with decent reputations have not done themselves anywhere near
justice.
Which is why McCall, having put his squad together, feels he should carry
the can for their shortcomings.
Not that Saturday was the meek roll-over that the final margin of defeat may
suggest. Far from it.
With the stakes so high for both sides, City had to be up for the battle and
prepared to meet Dagenham yard for yard.
That's how it's got to be against John Still's lot. They are like a street
fighter who will use anything to gain an advantage.
The ball was whipped about the pitch at 100 miles per hour. Tackles flew in;
throw-ins taken quickly just to keep the game rattling along. Every sinew is
strained to keep pace with this lively young bunch.
It did not make for the most aesthetic of football games but it sure was an
exciting one.
After 20 minutes of frenzied stalemate, the chances suddenly came in a
bundle. Two fell for City, both headers which should have been buried.
Chris Brandon, back in midfield, started a bright move with one of several
positive touches on halfway. Jones and Lee Bullock combined neatly down the
left before the winger stood up the perfect cross for Brandon running in
unmarked at the far post.
He shaped to direct the ball downwards but did so too much and the ball
cannoned off the hard turf in the goalmouth and over the Dagenham bar.
Within a minute, Peter Gain let rip at the other end. The shot scorched past
Rhys Evans but fortunately Paul Arnison, another player back in favour, was
in the perfect spot to block on the line, although I doubt he knew much
about it.
Back we went with City on the offensive to force their first corner. Paul
McLaren picked out Peter Thorne but, with Button blocked out of contention
by Mullin, City's top scorer ballooned the header over.
Two gilt-edged opportunities down the plug hole and we all feared what would
happen next. But City rode those blows and seemed to have fashioned the
perfect answer nine minutes into the second half.
Another inviting cross from Jones completely deceived the nervy Button, who
fell to the floor as Thorne crashed home the header from close range. Then
came Pat Miller's whistle ...
Graeme Lee was struggling with a hip injury and City needed to make a
change. But before that happened, Sam Saunders cut in from the left wing to
seize on Lee's hesitancy and use the room for a crashing drive into the top
corner of the net.
Matt Ritchie nodded against the bar and Ben Strevens scooped over from eight
yards out as Dagenham pushed to put the game beyond the stunned visitors.
City's approach was growing more frantic as panic set in. Route one was the
only order of the day, Mullin's bonce battered by the constant flow of high
balls sent towering in his direction.
His shout for a penalty was ignored and then Bullock looped a header against
the far post. That proved City's final chance.
Strevens missed another chance but then made no mistake when Paul Benson
sent him free on goal. City were in tatters.
The misery was complete when Evans made a complete hash of claiming a
through-ball and coughed it up for Strevens to tap in.
McCall, his head down, made for the City fans. Unless there is a dramatic
sea change, it seems that they won't be seeing much more of him.
Attendance: 1,883
===========================
Crushed Stuart McCall has admitted: I've let everyone down.
The City boss edged nearer the Valley Parade exit after Saturday's loss
at Dagenham effectively slammed the door on the play-offs.
City dropped to 11th spot – their lowest position of the season – and
are now four points off seventh with only two games left.
McCall will sit down with the two chairmen after the final match at
Chesterfield to discuss his position but it looks like his mind is
already made up.
He said: "This has been mental anguish for me; mental torture. We've
massively under-achieved as a team and I've under-achieved as a manager.
"I just feel I've let everyone down; the club, the fans, my own family –
even my little lad, who thought it was nailed on that we were going to
Wembley.
"I put this squad together and felt we'd have a good crack at promotion.
I felt we'd definitely finish in the top seven – that was the minimum of
what would be required.
"In the first two-thirds of the season, we scored lots of goals and
played some good stuff. We were always around the top three or four.
"But nobody could have predicted the horrendous run we've had in the
last nine games. It's hit us hard.
"The wheels have come off and that's my responsibility. Unfortunately
I've not been able to put them back on."
City's winless slump stretched to a ninth game as Dagenham drilled three
second-half goals. But they had missed good chances before that and saw
a legitimate-looking Peter Thorne header chalked off for a foul on home
keeper David Button.
McCall said: "Saturday was a picture of the last nine games. We missed
three well acceptable chances, there was poor defending and a crucial
decision went against us.
"The ref thought that Mullers (Paul Mullin) had impeded the keeper but
he didn't do anything. They haven't complained about it and afterwards
the keeper said he'd just slipped.
"For the first hour, you wouldn't have said we were a team lacking in
spirit or confidence or anything. We looked a decent side.
"Decisions like that don't just change the outcome of games but seasons.
The referee said he would apologise if he got it wrong but that doesn't
help anyone.
"But it's all right saying this and that. The bottom line is I've not
produced. I've put this squad together this season and not been able to
deliver."
Omar Daley, whose cruciate injury in February looks a significant reason
behind City's sudden collapse, has been named in the PFA League Two team
of the season.
McCall said: "There have been factors, like the injuries at crucial
times, but with the standard of player we've got at this club, it's
still hugely frustrating and disappointing that we are where we are."
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