Bradford City 1 Crewe Alexandra 5: Sad capitulation for what could prove end of an era on Parade

Farewell, too, no doubt, to several of the players who have ‘helped’ the Bantams to their lowest league position for 45 years.

Those were, at least, two crumbs of comfort that City supporters could glean from an otherwise miserable final day of the season as Peter Jackson’s side capitulated to a pathetic 5-1 defeat against a Crewe Alexandra side who had lost their previous 11 away games.

Far more worrying for the long-suffering Valley Parade faithful was that the Railwaymen’s embarrassingly one-sided triumph may yet prove to be the final act played at the club’s home of more than a century.

Odsal, it seems, beckons for the Bantams unless a rent reduction can be agreed with the landlords of both Valley Parade and the adjoining office block.

With the finances in such a perilous state that the players were paid late last month, the board insist that staying in Manningham with the current overheads of £1.25m per annum will, in the not-too-distant future, lead to City going under.

Hence, the very real possibility of a move across the city to the home of Bradford Bulls rugby league club.

It is a sad state of affairs for a proud club who, just a decade ago, were rubbing shoulders with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League.

But that is the harsh reality of life at the end of a season when the Bantams have finished 18th in the basement division – their worst showing since being forced to apply for re-election in 1965-66.

Clayton Donaldson, the Bradford-born striker who was one of the architects of Crewe’s resounding victory, is just one of many in the city concerned by the plight of the Bantams.

“It is not nice to see,” said the 26-year-old after finishing the season as League Two’s top scorer with 28 goals. “I am a Manningham lad and a Bradford City fan, who used to go to a lot of games when I was younger.

“One of my dreams was to play at Valley Parade but, unfortunately, I was released (by City) at 15 and had to go elsewhere.

“This is my first visit back and I do feel for Bradford. I always look for their results and am like anyone in that I want my home-town club to do well.

“It has been a torrid time with all the managers and players Bradford have had, and where they have finished in the league.

“Let’s hope they can dust themselves off and be flying high next season. I have been told they could move to Odsal (this summer) and that would not be good. I hope they can stay here.”

As depressing as this season has been at Valley Parade, at least Bradford will still have a League club to support come August – wherever that place may be in the city. That is, of course, something the good people of Lincoln and Stockport would love to be able to claim this morning.

However, on the evidence of how easily Crewe were able to end a run of consecutive away defeats that had begun in early January, drastic improvements are going to have to be made to the squad if 2011-12 is not destined to be another season of on-field struggle.

The tone for a wretched final afternoon was set inside seven minutes when a loose pass by David Syers allowed Shaun Miller to nip in front of Luke Oliver and then lift the ball over Jon McLaughlin before finishing from close range.

City did briefly rally and pulled level midway through the first half when David Artell fouled Jake Speight, who got to his feet to convert the resulting penalty.

After that, Crewe seized control. First, a sweeping 33rd-minute counter-attack culminated in Byron Moore crossing for Miller to score his second.

Sixty seconds later, it was Donaldson’s turn to capitalise on sloppy defensive play as the former Bradford junior fired past McLaughlin from the edge of the area.

There was little the City goalkeeper could do to keep out Donaldson’s drilled effort, though the same could not be said of the 44th-minute strike by Danny Shelley that ended up in the net when it should have been easily saved.

An afternoon that had started with an impeccably observed and moving minute’s silence for the 56 fans who died in the 1985 fire disaster had turned sour and a fifth goal arrived midway through the second half when Shelley fired in from close range after an almighty scramble.

It ensured a sweet return to Bradford for former Hull and York striker Donaldson, who is out of contract at Gresty Road this summer and in demand from a host of clubs after a hugely impressive season.

He said: “I was upset when Bradford let me go at Under-15 level. I felt good enough to make the grade.

“Unfortunately for me, I went there at the wrong time. I think the club had already decided who to take on, people like Lewis Emanuel.

“It wasn’t meant to be so I went to Hull. Then, at York my career really got going. I took on the chin what happened at Bradford.”

Copping one on the chin is, of course, something City fans are all too familiar with after the slide of the past decade.

Let us just hope, therefore, that this summer does not bring what could well prove to be a knockout blow for the Bantams and that a deal can be struck to keep the club at Valley Parade.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Hunt, Oliver, Bullock, Threlfall; Rowe, Worthington, Syers, Daley (O’Brien 46); Speight, Hanson (Flett 46). Unused substitutes: Dobie, Osborne, Chilaka, Horne, Pidgeley.

Crewe Alexandra: Taylor, Mitchel-King, Artell (Davis 72) , Dugdale, Tootle; Moore, AR Westwood, Bell, Shelley (Sarcevic 87); Donaldson, Miller. Unused substitutes: Phillips, Ada, Grant, AM Westwood.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancs).

Jackson left to soldier on as board ponder

PETER JACKSON will be at his Valley Parade desk today and planning for next season – despite having no idea whether he will be Bradford’s new manager come August.

The 50-year-old has been doing the job on an interim basis since Peter Taylor quit after a poor run of results.

Jackson’s brief when appointed in late February was to keep City in the Football League but the board are yet to reveal whether that will be enough to secure the job on a permanent basis.

John Still, whose Dagenham & Redbridge were relegated from League One on Saturday, is also believed to be in the running.

No indication has been given by joint-chairmen Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes as to when an appointment will be made, meaning Jackson plans to carry on until told otherwise. He said: “I will come in Monday and the retained list will be out later that day. I will speak to the out-of-contract players on the Monday and those in contract the following day. I am planning ahead for next season. Someone has to be here to do that. My future, until I am told otherwise, will be to come into work, day in and day out.”

The 5-1 defeat to Crewe means Jackson’s 14 games have yielded four wins and three draws. Those results have been achieved with a squad of players signed by previous managers.

Jackson is the first to admit that big improvements have to be made, pointing to the manner of Saturday’s defeat as evidence of the need for change. “This is a horrible way to end the season.

“The most important thing was when I came to the club was keeping us in the League, but this defeat has taken some of the shine off it.

“Last week, we secured our League status (by drawing at Hereford United) but then, in our final home game, we go and get absolutely smashed.

“Crewe are the top scorers in the League but it was poor defending. In the second half, it was all about damage limitation. That was why I put an extra man in midfield. It is embarrassing when you have to do that.”

Along with his players, Jackson took part in what the club described as a ‘lap of appreciation’. Around 1,500 fans stayed behind to return the squad’s applause and Jackson said: “The supporters were fantastic.

“To stay and give the players an ovation like that was outstanding.”

Asked if the players deserved such a response, Jackson replied: “No.”