Ex-Portsmouth, Reading and Aberdeen man Tom McIntyre opens up on 'difficult situation' at Bradford City

Free agent Tom McIntyre has claimed he was in a “difficult situation” during his brief loan spell at Bradford City.

The 27-year-old was recruited by the Bantams in the last summer transfer window, sealing a season-long loan move from Portsmouth.

He made just 11 appearances for the club, who exercised their option to terminate his loan in January. It was McIntyre’s second underwhelming loan spell away from Fratton Park after a stint at Charlton Athletic.

The defender’s Pompey deal was later terminated and he ended the 2025/26 campaign north of the border with Aberdeen.

McIntyre is now unattached and taking part in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) pre-season training camp for free agents.

Tom McIntyre on ‘difficult situation’ at Bradford City

In an interview with Sky Sports, the centre-back has spoken candidly about a difficult chapter in his career.

He said: “I just haven't really settled anywhere, which I've found difficult. I'd been at Reading for a long time, then went to Portsmouth and, in my first game, I broke my ankle, so that was a shocker to start like that when I thought I could really kick on and get a bit of rhythm with my football.

“From there, various things happened and I came back the next season, picked up another little injury, then didn't start the season, so I was playing catch-up. I played 10 games back-to-back in a team that was struggling. It was just tough, I got judged off that and that was it, really. That was my Portsmouth career pretty much gone.

"I've been on loan various places, but they haven't really worked. Charlton got promoted and were winning every week, so it was a hard team to get into.

“At Bradford, it was a difficult situation because they were doing so well. Then I signed a six-month deal at Aberdeen in January and picked up an injury after four or five games when I felt I was getting into a rhythm.”

‘A tough two years’

McIntyre was once a regular in the Championship with Reading but a move back to the second tier currently appears unlikely for the former Scotland youth international.

His focus is now on settling down somewhere and rebuilding his career having seen little action of late.

He said: “It's been a tough two years. I was playing at a certain level two or three years ago and, when you start to slip down, you start to ask a lot of questions. But you've got to be a bit kinder to yourself. I know everyone has got their sob story, but there have been a few things that have been tough, outside of football as well.

“I just want to get in somewhere, get settled and really get back to playing my best football because I haven't changed as a player, I've just had some unfortunate things that have gone on, where I still think I've got loads to give and I still back my quality. I'm just looking to get in somewhere and do my stuff.

“One hundred per cent I've got a point to prove. I'm desperate to just get a bit of continuity to my football.”

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