Summer blues

On one day, Bradford City snapped up one young, precocious talent but missed out on an experienced midfielder who refused to take a medical. It just about encapsulates our summer.

The Scottish youth international is Scott Brown, a player described by manager Peter Jackson as the best 16-year-old he's ever seen. The second player is believed to be Tommy Miller, who now appears destined for Huddersfield Town.

But the bitter-sweet news has one been coming through all summer. We've staved off the threat of leaving behind our Valley Parade home, with Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn instead taking further hold of the club but on the flip side seen a proposed takeover turn down - some have welcomed the possible investment, some are a little more cautious of the news.

We've appointed a new manager, a club hero who many fans are glad to see; but on the flip-side his form was poor at the end of last season and he wasn't everyone's first choice. Jackson, though, to his credit, has brought in a wealth of men to add muscle to the coaching set-up and we have a new chief scout, with all the passion, hunger and contacts necessary.

We've also unveiled a new kit. A return to claret and amber, though one with flashed stripes; but on the flip-side a bright, gaudy pink away kit.

But in the end, what will count is the talent on the pitch. To that means, our stand-out signing is Guy Branston; a tough, experienced centre back with a pedigree at our level, just the sort of man we need to build a spine around and one who should hopefully bring on Steve Williams who is still learning the game. Then of course, there's the undoubted goal-getting talent of Ross Hannah. And eventually we landed Scottish pair Chris Mitchell and Mark Stewart. Brown made it a triumvirate this week.

But for every positive, there's been a set back. One of the best goalkeepers in the Conference, Sam Russell, reputedly turned down a two-year deal to stay with current club Darlington but on a shorter deal. Gary Jones, another midfielder with form at our level and above, also declined to move away from his current club. Then there was the strike duo of Ashley Grimes and Clayton Donaldson who opted for higher league football. The latter was particularly heart-wrenching. We'd paid for his family to have a box at the final game of the season. What they saw was Donaldson tearing us apart. Perhaps it was that frailty which put him off his hometown club, but in the end all he could manage to say was he believed League Two was beneath him. Miller makes it five.

It's difficult to remember a summer where we've missed out on so many signings. But big signings too. Those five would have ensured a very strong spine to our team and one you'd believe in. That said, Stuart McCall set out his transfer path three years ago, landed the lot, then we missed out in the final run-in. Instead we'll have to judge Jackson's squad when it runs out in August, rather than the one which we've lost out on in July.

A transfer to relish

This is a central defender. A snarling, menacing man ready to throw his body on the line in the heart of any defence. A man you wouldn't mess with. A man who you want playing for you not against you. And a defender who can put a striker in his back pocket - just ask James Hanson.

The signing of Guy Branston is a statement of some intent from Peter Jackson. Branston has experience, is a no-nonsense defender and a player who earned his place in the League Two team of the year. Torquay United's loss is Bradford City's gain.

Of course we've been here before. David Wetherall and Mark Bower were supposed to have a wealth of higher-league experience. Matt Clarke was supposed to be suited to League Two. Graeme Lee was supposed to have earned promotions before and be the leader we needed. None worked. Not sufficiently anyway.

Now Jackson has brought in a replacement for Luke Oliver, a giant of a man but one whose performances have not always matched the billing. Branston will also be a perfect foil for Steve Williams to learn from.

On the flip side, fans and critics have already pointed to a long list of former clubs and a reputation for seeing red. But let's be honest, this is a real boost in what is turning into a summer of real transition - a new manager, ground talks, potential new owners, and Jackson's transfer market search. A search which has already realised a proven goalscorer and ambitions at signing another much-suited striker. Long may this optimism - however packaged some of it may be - continue.

21st century signing

Speculation remains over the future of the ground, there's still an interim manager in place and season tickets have yet to be put on sale, yet Bradford City today have made their first signing of the summer. Welcome Ross Hannah.

An awful season might have only come to an end five days ago, and suggestions are that a new manager won't be in place until perhaps June, but that has not stopped Peter Jackson lifting some of the gloom and uncertainty by capturing the hitman Hannah. A former Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United trainee, he netted an amazing 52 goals in league and cup last season. Yes, 52. That's three more than our entire team.

News of the signing first came through on Twitter this afternoon only days after Hannah himself had posted on his own account earlier in the week that he was in talks with us and his current side Matlock Town. A number of fans this afternoon posted news of Hannah's signing even before it broke on the official website or in the local press. Twitter has brought fans so much closer to players than in a long time - perhaps since the outset of the Premier League.

But it will be on the pitch we really judge Hannah. Such a phenemonal goalscoring record will give Hannah something to live up to but shows we have bought ourselves an exciting proposition. And Hannah will follow in the footsteps of our better recent signings, all coming from the semi-pro ranks, such as James Hanson, Steve Williams and Dave Syers. Combine that with other recent top-performers like Joe Colbeck and Luke O'Brien from our own youth ranks, and it's easy to see where we should be trying to pick up our talent.

Welcome Ross Hannah. And the very best of luck.