Revamped Bradford City squad far more flexible, says joint interim manager Mark Trueman

Trueman and Conor Sellars had an incredibly busy transfer window, the more so considering they are only interim managers, signing nine players and letting six leave the club.

The net result, says Trueman, is a squad with far more flexibility than the one they inherited in December.

“It's been a positive window for us,” he said. “We've brought in good players who are going to strengthen the group.

“We've added strengths in different areas of the pitch so we're delighted with how the window's gone.

“The players we had were much alike in the forward line so we've got different types of players who can offer different strengths. We can play in different styles and different formations if needed.”

The joint interim managers are unbeaten in eight matches in charge, winning five and moving the team up to 17th in League Two, with games in hand on the teams directly above. Given that and the backing they have had in the transfer market, it might make sense to drop the word “interim” from their job titles sooner rather than later, but if Trueman is bothered about that, he hides it well.

“Nothing changes in terms of myself and Conor's mindset and at the minute we're having success from it and the players are buying into how we work so there's no pressure we're putting on ourselves,” he insisted. “As coaches, though, we put demands on our players.

“We're happy. We went from caretakers to interim and we'll continue with the same mindset.

“If the club feel it's the right thing to do to put us as managers, we'll take that.”

Billy Clarke faces a late fitness test ahead of the long journey south west, and Harry Pritchard and Reece Staunton could be on the buses too.

Pritchard has not played this calendar year, and Staunton has not figured at all under Trueman and Sellars, although they know the left-sided defender well having coached him in the youth team.

“Billy picked up a slight hamstring (injury) so he's been with the physio and he will be finding out on Friday if he's available for the squad,” said Trueman.

“Pritch and Reece Staunton are back training and they will improve the squad when they're back fit.

“They've trained all week so we'll just have to see.

“Reece, Niall (Canavan) and Matty Foulds (two January signings) are all players who can play in a back three or a back four so it's competition for places and they've all got the mindset of waiting for the opportunity and doing everything in their powers to make sure they're ready to take it.”

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