AT the start of a new working week, the graft is not over for Bradford City manager Graham Alexander - despite his side's play-off elimination on Thursday night.

Alexander, whose side lost out 2-0 on aggregate to Bolton Wanderers in their League One semi-final, still has matters to attend to before the close season.

With the club's focus understandably being on promotion in the final weeks of the campaign, attention will now switch to finalising their retained list - with their fates not going to a final game of the season at Wembley next Sunday.

After a weekend off - when players were afforded time to come to terms with their 2025-26 story being now over - the squad and coaching staff will reconvene on Monday ahead of their extended break.

Graham Alexander's Bradford City were beaten in the play-off semi-finals. Photograph by Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Graham Alexander's Bradford City were beaten in the play-off semi-finals. Photograph by Tony Johnson.

Individual discussions will be held with those players whose deals are due to expire in June.

They include Aden Baldwin, Tyreik Wright, Antoni Sarcevic and Ciaran Kelly.

Loan players Louie Sibley, Harrison Ashby, Joe White, Ethan Wheatley and Paul Mullin will return to their parent clubs.

Alexander said: "It's important to have time to spend with your family and stuff like that.

Bolton Wanderers' Ibrahim Cissoko (left) and Bradford City's Aden Baldwin battle for the ball during the Sky Bet League One play off semi-final second leg match at the University of Bradford Stadium, Bradford. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

"But we'll be in on Monday, we'll be speaking to the players in general and speaking to a few individuals. Then we'll be cracking on with the plans for next season.

"Pre-season games are already sorted. Our camp away is already sorted. The recruitment, now we know which division we're in, can start to gather pace.

"I think we all need to have a little breather as well and appreciate what an exciting season we've had. Ultimately not successful, as in getting a promotion, but I think it's one where we can certainly hold our heads high."

Alongside discussions with those members of his squad whose futures are up in the air and some individual chats with others, Alexander will also speak with squad regarding their summer programmes ahead of returning to pre-season.

He continued: "It won't be a debrief of the season, to be honest. We sort of do that in spells anyway.

"It's more like, ‘listen, enjoy your break and this is the plan for the summer, how you have to stay fit.’

"When we come back in pre-season, we're going to hit the ground running and attack it.

"I think there might be a personal debrief with a few individuals on that side, but not as a team. I think the team know what they've done this season.

"But we're just going to have to feel the pain for a few more days and probably try and avoid watching the final.

"I always have this tinge of jealousy when I see teams having those moments. I know we had it last season. We were close this season. That's the goal for us all, to enjoy those moments again."

As for 'rest' himself, the City chief will afford himself a brief break, not that he's likely to be totally switched off.

"It's an ongoing process. We're fortunate to have jobs that we love the work that we do," he added.

"I do talk about the grind but it’s not that for me."