Football Season Guide

League 2

England

League 2

2019/2020

Bradford City

In

Sam Hornby (Goalkeeper, Port Vale), Adam Henley (Defender, Real Salt Lake), Ben Everton-Richards (Defender, Accrington Stanley), Jackson Longridge (Defender, Dunfermline Athletic), Paudie O’Connor (Defender, Leeds United), Tyler French (Defender, AFC Sudbury), Matty Palmer (Midfielder, Rotherham United, Season-long loan), Zeli Ismail (Midfielder, Walsall), Clayton Donaldson (Attacker, Bolton Wanderers), James Vaughan (Attacker, Wigan Athletic)

Out

Ben Wilson (Goalkeeper, Coventry City), Adam Chicksen (r) (Defender, released), Calum Woods (Defender, Tranmere Rovers), Nathaniel Knight-Percival (r) (Defender, Carlisle United), Paul Caddis (r) (Defender, released), Ryan McGowan (sp) (Defender, Sydney FC), Callum Gunner (Midfielder, released), Cameron Hawkes (Midfielder, released), Jack Payne (k) (Midfielder, Huddersfield Town, Loan ended), Jacob Butterfield (sp) (Midfielder, Derby County, Loan ended), Josh Wright (sp) (Midfielder, Leyton Orient), Lewis O’Brien (r) (Midfielder, Huddersfield Town, Loan ended), Alex Jones (Attacker, Partick Thistle), Billy Clarke (sp) (Attacker, released), David Ball (r) (Attacker, Rotherham United, Loan ended), George Miller (sp) Attacker, Middlesbrough, Loan ended), Tom Clare (Attacker, released)

The last campaign was one to forget for Bradford City, who never looked like recovering from a dreadful start and finished bottom of League One, nine points adrift of safety. They went through three managers, which tends to illustrate the instability at Valley Parade. Gary Bowyer inherited a mess and despite his managerial experience, stood little chance of avoiding the drop. Bowyer has spent the summer rebuilding the squad and it has seen several players leave the club. The departures of a trio of influential loanees in Jacob Butterfield, Jack Payne and David Ball were all expected but centre-back Nathaniel Knight-Percival’s move to Carlisle United was a surprise. The Bantams will be pleased to have retained the services of leading goalscorer Eoin Doyle and defensive midfielder Anthony O’Connor but the side which starts the new season will otherwise look very different to one which finished the last. Sam Hornby will challenge Richard O’Donnell for the number one jersey whilst Paudie O’Connor will feature in the centre of defence after his loan from Leeds United was made permanent. Clayton Donaldson and James Vaughan will provide bundles of experience in attack after signing this summer. Bradford City are a big club in League 2 with average attendances likely to top 15,000 again. Their fans will be expecting an immediate return to League 1.

Target

Automatic promotion. Bowyer will need time to get his new signings to gel but once established there is no reason why they shouldn’t be challenging for the top 3.