Bradford City boss Graham Alexander's admission regarding out-of-contract players

The futures of a clutch of key players who are coming off contract is yet to be decided, with Graham Alexander keen to avoid distractions as staff and players focus all their energies on delivering what will hopefully be a second joyous end to a season in a row.

Last season’s promotion hero Antoni Sarcevic – named as City’s player of the season at the club’s awards ceremony on Tuesday night - is among those whose deals expire in June.

Influential defender Aden Baldwin is another, alongside arguably the club’s form player so far in 2026 in Tyreik Wright.

Sarcevic and Wright have been absent through injury of late, alongside Bobby Pointon, who shared the players’ player accolade with Sarcevic on Tuesday.

Ten-goal Sarcevic has the best chance of featuring in Saturday’s crunch League One final-day game at Exeter City - he has missed the past two matches with an ankle issue - with the Bantams requiring a point in Devon to confirm a play-off place.

It promises to be a tense final day of the regular campaign with five clubs fighting for three available spots in the end-of-season lottery, with Bolton Wanderers assured of a top-six finish.

Come the close of play at St James Park, City, currently in fifth position, could end up as high as third. But conversely, if things go against them, they could miss out in seventh.

If either Stevenage, who host Wigan Athletic, or Luton Town - they head to Bolton - fail to win, then the Bantams’ season will be extended, regardless of events at Exeter.

If events at the culmination of the National League last weekend are anything to go by, then drama is likely somewhere, for sure.

Seasons are on the line and it helps to explain why discussions regarding players’ contracts have currently been placed on the backburner at City, given the fluid situation regarding which division they will find themselves in 2026-27.

Asked about whether the futures of off-of-contract players has been addressed yet, Alexander said: "I haven’t at all, to be honest. It’s a difficult scenario to dictate when you make decisions.

"Next season is the last thing on my mind right now. I apologise for that to people whose futures are a part of that.

"We need to get this job done and Saturday’s the next opportunity to do that.

"We have continual discussions on and off throughout the season on the players’ progression and improvements we need to make, regardless of what next season looks like.

"Sometimes when you’re trying to make (player contract) decisions and it’s not definite, there’s a grey area and a fuzziness about it.

"Once the end of the season happens, I think it brings clarity to everything and you can just get things done. But we’re not thinking along those lines right now.”

Everyone of a Bradford persuasion are understandably keeping their fingers crossed that their campaign ends in exhilarating fashion at Wembley on Sunday, May 24, when the third-tier play-off final takes place.

To confirm a play-off ticket and be sweating, City must draw against a desperate Exeter side who must win to have any prospect of staving off relegation in what is a huge afternoon for both sides in the south west.

The magnitude of the game does not need spelling out for both teams.

For his part, Alexander has pledged that his side will not be pragmatic and play for a draw and will stay true to the front-foot, high-tempo style which has brought them success throughout 25-26 – albeit with an element of sense.

He added: "There’s pressure on both teams going into the game, wanting to win the points for two different reasons but still as important as each other.

"Sometimes it’s difficult to understand how an opposition is going to approach a game. We focus on our game so much and if we play to our full potential, I believe we can overcome whatever game they bring.

"That’s the nirvana for us as a team. We’re all searching for this performance regardless of who we play.

"Setting our stall out to draw a game is an accident waiting to happen. I don’t think it’s in our nature.

"It’s not something we instil in our training from day one. All the way through, we never change the message.

"Even when we went to Newcastle (in the EFL Cup), we didn’t sit deep and sit in. We wanted to be true to what we are.

"We think it’s effective and it wins games over a consistent period of time and points. That’s why we play how we do.

"I think it does tick boxes with the support and culminates with how they stick with us."