Dagenham cloud Bradford’s move for Benson

The Bantams made their move for the 32-year-old late last week and were hopeful of pushing through a £100,000 deal that would see the Charlton Athletic forward immediately move to Valley Parade on loan before becoming a permanent signing in January.

However, Dagenham & Redbridge have since emerged as a serious contender to sign Benson, who will be out of contract at the end of this season.

It means the scrap for the in-demand striker is an intriguing subplot to the bigger battle of staying in the Football League, third-bottom Bradford being one place and one point above their Essex rivals.

Finding the net has been a major problem for both City and Dagenham, hence the importance which Parkinson and counterpart John Still are placing on a deal.

Bradford chief Parkinson signed the 32-year-old when in charge of Charlton, who have yet to inform the Yorkshire club if their £100,000 offer has been accepted.

Parkinson insisted after the weekend derby defeat to Rotherham United that Benson wanted to join City and that the club hoped to push a deal through before Thursday’s deadline for loan transfers.

That stance had not changed last night with City remaining optimistic of signing the player.

Benson is a player Parkinson has coveted since taking charge of the club in August. The City manager signed the striker for Charlton from Dagenham but he has since found opportunities in the first team hard to come by, having played just three times this season.

Should Bradford clinch a deal for the forward it will be the first time the club have splashed out a six-figure fee since first going into administration in 2002.

Fees have been paid in recent years for the likes of Gareth Evans, Jake Speight and Willy Top but they were small compared to the sum that has been dangled in front of Charlton.

The fact the Bradford board are willing to sanction such a sizeable fee is a vivid illustration of the concern felt at Valley Parade over the club’s precarious league position.

Joint chairman Julian Rhodes said: “We need to do what we need to do to stay in the League. The season is now all about doing as well in the FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, while making sure we survive in the League. If that means spending money, then so be it.”