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.

Let battle commence

Ding dong. Another round of Leeds United versus Bradford City. This time in the League Cup first round at Elland Road. Let battle commence.

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.

Peter Jackson's Bradford army

Now that Bradford City's future at Valley Parade has been secured, it's time for the second worst secret in football to be unveiled - and the club to announce Peter Jackson as the new permanent successor to Peter Taylor.

This blog has maintained its support for John Coleman, who even now is still being rumoured to be the next man in the Valley Parade hotseat. But it seems certain that City will appoint Jackson on a permanent basis.

Jackson has an indifferent pedigree and his record last season was worse than that of his predecessor Peter Taylor as the club suffered its worst league season since the Sixties. Nevertheless, now that Jackson has been appointed, it's time for everyone at the club to finally pull in the same direction and strive for a longer-term future.

The details of his contract have yet to be announced, but when the club have long-term deals in place with the likes of James Hanson, Steve Williams, Jon McLaughlin, handing out similar terms to Ross Hannah and are trying their best to give more secure futures to other targets, such as that rumoured to be given to Sam Russell at Darlington, playing-wise that is starting to take place.

Stuart McCall was given time though not without its ups and downs, and even he was eventually hamstrung because the club did not budget long-term. Taylor himself was given short shrift and out after just a year. Now is the time for City must lay some solid foundations to avoid a repeat of this summer and no longer make knee-jerk reactions. Give Jackson time and give him the tools to do the job, and importantly club, justice.

Whatever any of us think of Jackson, the past is the past. City must now look to the future properly otherwise there may not be one.

Future secured; now for the manager

So Bradford City are to stay at Valley Parade after all. There were many fans who believed the threats to leave our home were little more than threats, a bit of sabre-rattling and negotiating through the press. However, there was a real danger of leaving behind Valley Parade - the Bulls, the council and importantly the Football League were all engaged in some way.

While it is only correct for the board to try and negotiate the best deal for City, and they should be applauded for trying to improve our financial situation or even underwrite our future, it has felt unnerving to see this played out in the press. It's not like City have 60,000 fans on a shortlist for a stadium which is far too small. Great grounds of English football, like Highbury, Maine Road, Anfield, all have their price. But Valley Parade's is one steeped in history and emotion, and it's perhaps even been immoral to play this game of high-stakes poker to the full view of the world. The club's very soul is embedded in the ground.

The terms of the deal which have led to City's future at Valley Parade being secure remain unclear. While, City initially pleaded poverty in a bid to reduce the rental agreement on the ground, the solution has been to buy back the offices. We've simply swapped one landlord for another and now further indebted to three chairmen - Gordon Gibb, Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes - through a whole array of negotiations; loans, rental agreements, personal guarantees.

The stories have not gone unnoticed throughout the world of football. They potentially threatened our end of season form and turned a tiny threat of relegation into a battle. And they have certainly put off potential successors to Peter Taylor. Having signed one coveted striker though, in Ross Hannah, it's clear there are individuals who believe in the club's future.

Now it is up to the board to appoint the right permanent manager. There are good candidates, average candidates and poor candidates. This blog continues to nail its colours to John Coleman's mast. He has done a tremendous job at Accrington Stanley with limited resources and has huge potential. But whoever that man eventually is needs to be given full backing, time and resources to get the job done and done right.

Welcome back

Two goals from Peter Beagrie - one a controversial penalty and the second was followed by a vital sending off for John Hartson - and one from Dean Windass all but nailed the final nail into Wimbledon's coffin. The Wombles had bombed, while Bradford City, thanks to a single John Dreyer goal at Sunderland, had suddenly found their feet. Two weeks later, a single goal by David Wetherall and Southampton's demolition of Wimbledon, saw City stay up at Wimbledon's expense.

It ended up being a goal that arguably, nearly destroyed both clubs. The two did meet again before The Football League inexpliciably allowed Wimbledon to up sticks and move north. The club was shattered, its history at first divided between its rightful home in London and usurpers from the new town of Milton Keynes which immorally bought a place in the league. Instead, a phoenix club was born.

City's own uncertain path was very different of course. Two courses of administration, false dawns and too many relegations. A history told a million times. AFC Wimbledon's own numerous promotions now see the two teams meet again after the latter won 4-3 on penalties in today's Conference play-off final against Luton Town.

Well done to Wimbledon. Welcome back to The Football League.

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.