League recognition as Wetherall exits Bantams

Wetherall, 40, was yesterday unveiled as the League’s new head of youth development, a position he will take up next month.

His departure will bring to an end a 12-year association with the Bantams, during which he made 330 appearances and had a three-month spell as caretaker manager.

Lawn said: “David has been an institution at Bradford City for many years so him leaving will be like the end of an era. I have known him since I joined the board (in 2007) and he was part of the management team with Stuart McCall and Wayne Jacobs.

“David then moved across to the youth set-up and, once again, approached the role with total professionalism. He is an excellent all-round guy and the Football League have got a good man.”

Wetherall, City’s one-time record signing at £1.6m, moved to Valley Parade in the summer of 1999 as then manager Paul Jewell looked to bolster his squad following promotion to the Premier League.

He went on to play every minute of the 1999-2000 season, an achievement no other outfield player could match in the top flight, as Bradford avoided relegation on the final day by beating Liverpool 1-0.

In total, he spent nine seasons as a player with Bradford and scored 21 goals, the most famous of which was the bullet-like header against Gerard Houllier’s Reds that preserved City’s Premier League status.

Wetherall said: “It has been an extremely tough decision to leave a club I have such an affinity with.

“But I just felt that this opportunity was too good to turn down. I will leave here with many special memories, however, and the club will always have a special place in my thoughts.”

Wetherall, who started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, spent eight years with Leeds before moving across West Yorkshire.

He reluctantly accepted the invitation to take charge of the Bantams in February, 2007, following the sacking of Colin Todd and was unable to keep the club in League One.

After retiring as a player at the end of the 2007-08 season, he joined Stuart McCall’s coaching staff before moving across to take charge of the youth set-up a year later.

Last season, City reached the FA Youth Cup fourth round, where they lost on penalties to Preston North End.

Peter Horne, the club’s existing Centre of Excellence manager, will assume control of the youth team following Wetherall’s decision to take up a position with the Football League.

Meanwhile, ticket details have been released for City’s derby encounter with Leeds United in the Carling Cup first round.

The tie, which will be shown live by Sky, is due to take place at Elland Road on Tuesday, August 9, kick-off 7.45pm.

Tickets are priced at £15 adults and Bradford fans have been allocated the South Stand and, depending on whether there is sufficient demand, the South East corner.

Twelve years on parade...

Signed: June 1999 (£1.6m from Leeds United, then a club record).

Appearances: 330.

Goals: 21.

Highlight: Scoring the goal that kept City in the Premier League at the end of his first season.

Lowpoint: Three relegations (2001, 2004 & 2007)

Manager: Feb-May, 2007.

Other jobs held: Reserve and youth team manager.