McCall returns and this time Bradford prove '˜a perfect fit'

McCall’s ‘second coming’ as manager at Valley Parade was ushered in yesterday lunch-time, with the 52-year-old – wiser and more knowledgeable in his own words than he was when first named as Bantams’ chief in 2007 – signing a two-year deal.

Bradford may be a club that has always tugged upon McCall’s heartstrings following two decorated spells as a player alongside his first stint in the dug-out.

But he insists that sentiment ultimately played no major part in his decision to return to the place where he is still revered by thousands of a claret and amber persuasion.

Keen to return to club management he may have been after a year’s break after leaving Rangers, but even accounting for his obvious attachment to Bradford, McCall’s decision was an analytical and professional one based upon fact and not fanfare or “fulfilling a dream”, the phrase used when he first took charge.

That he arrives at a place transformed behind the scenes from the club that he worked at on a daily basis in his first tenure from May 2007 to February 2010 has been duly noted by McCall, who described City’s training base at Apperley Bridge as “night and day” compared to the facilities to which he was accustomed.

As is Bradford’s current position as an established and competitive League One side with bona fide ambitions to return to the Championship in the near future – in marked contrast to much of his first stint at BD8 when the club struggled to make an impact in the bottom rung.

What City are also now getting in the bargain is a more seasoned and savvy manager with international as well as club experience.

McCall, who will be assisted by Kenny Black, said: “This decision has not been led by emotion this time. It has been led by looking at the club, the owners and infrastructure and a realism that this is a big football club who can become a Championship side, without a doubt. It has got the makings of a Championship structure.

“It’s a great opportunity at a fantastic club. People say never go back, but I came back as a player and had a little bit of success.

“I have been out of day to day management for a year and had opportunities to go back in. But in an ideal world, I was looking for a club that had a good fanbase, structure and matching my ambitions to what I want to do.

“It’s a perfect fit for me. The last time I was here, it certainly wasn’t a perfect fit. But it is now.

“I don’t like to keep looking back, but the last time I was here, the club had just dropped into the bottom division.

“In hindsight, I let my heart rule my head as it was a place I always wanted to come to.

“But it was a totally different club and I was a totally different manager. I was a rookie who came from the Premier League down to the bottom level and didn’t know the level or players.

“I come now with a focus of doing a job with less of the emotion. I am lot more experienced and have managed in the Champions League, Europa League, international games and cup finals. It is nine years ago and I am a lot more equipped now and streetwise.”

McCall’s return to Bradford may have arrived “right out of the blue” with Bradford’s new owners Stefan Rupp and Edin Rahic recently contacting him just after he landed for a family holiday, but after interrupting his break to speak with the club hierarchy, he was subsequently swayed by what they had to say.

The new Bradford chief is pragmatic enough to realise that their relationship will need to be cultivated further over the coming months in the duo’s first foray into English football, but he believes that they have already found plenty of common ground.

McCall, who has ended his coaching duties with Scotland, said: “Two very ambitious guys are running the club who are energetic and enthusiastic and it will be slightly different. I will have to learn a little bit off them and likewise them with me.

“But all the meetings have been positive and we just want to keep the momentum going. The club have been progressing nicely over the past few years and don’t want that momentum to stop.”

McCall acknowledged that he has plenty of work to do regarding finalising his backroom staff and in recruitment, with central midfield likely to be a priority area.

Adeptly utilising the loan market under new rules is one specific area that McCall is hoping to exploit and he is confident that a club of Bradford’s standing will prove a lure to many players.

He said: “We are weak on numbers as a number of clubs are at this moment. There is a hole in the middle of the park with the two loan players (Lee Evans and Josh Cullen) going back. In other areas we need to strengthen too.

“I think we will have a mixture and combination of loans and maybe bringing in a couple of players to buy and out there are a lot of free agents as well.”

On adding to his backroom team, he added: “I have brought Kenny Black in and we will need a goalkeeping coach, a (chief) scout and maybe a fitness coach. It is an area we are looking at.”