Jacobs makes his practical pitch

The Bantams are hoping to appoint Stuart McCall's successor this week with a host of candidates in the running.

Several were interviewed last Thursday and Friday with Peter Taylor, Peter Jackson, Lawrie Sanchez, Dean Windass, Russell Slade and Martin Allen understood to have been grilled by joint chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn.

Allen and Slade watched City's goalless draw from the Valley Parade main stand, while the others all sent representatives to report back on Bradford's strengths and weaknesses.

Rhodes and Lawn plan to sit down with the final members on their shortlist today with former Burnley manager Steve Cotterill expected to be among those hoping to earn the chance to succeed McCall.

Jacobs, whose contract as assistant manager runs until the summer, is also hoping to speak to the board. He said: "I asked the chairmen if I can have an interview. So, we will wait and see on that.

"Part of mine would have been a practical interview (against Grimsby) so I will have to wait and have a chat about that.

"Then, we will see if I get one (an interview) or not. I am contracted to the club anyway. I will treat the coming week on a day-by-day basis."

On Slade and Allen being in the main stand, Jacobs said: "I blocked it out. I said to the players 'you can't do anything about that'. All we can do is affect things on the pitch."

Jacobs, who has spent all but two of the past 16 years at Valley Parade as a player and coach, added: "It is a fantastic job. This is a big club in the sense of the stadia and attendances. It is trying to be a big club in the sense of what league it plays its football in.

"There are some things that need sorting out but it is a fantastic job. I am disappointed with the result because as well as being employed by the club I am a big fan of this club.

"Like any other fan, I wanted to go home with three points. But I was probably the proudest man in Bradford because I was the manager of Bradford City Football Club."

The draw means the club are likely to kick off next season in League Two.