Taylor dismisses City rumours of managerial change

The former England chief has endured a nightmare start to his first full season in charge at Valley Parade with the Bantams lanquishing third from bottom after just one win in five games.

Their last two results were 2-0 home defeats to Southend United and Port Vale respectively, and rumours had been circulating that Taylor had fallen out with joint-chairman Mark Lawn. But in denying such a rift existed, both men stressed that Taylor was the man to turn Bradford's fortunes around.

"Apparently it was suggested I've had a fall-out with Mark Lawn and basically told him to pay me up and I'll go. That's a load of old rubbish," blasted Taylor, 57, who takes his struggling side to Stockport County on Saturday.

"It is isn't right at the minute and we all know that. But I'm very determined to turn this round and produce a team that will go on a good run.

"It's going to be a long haul and we know that. We want to get it right come Saturday but if not we'll carry on working until it does."

For his part, Lawn also denied suggestions of a rift, and backed Taylor to be the man to lift City from the doldrums.

"If this so-called story came from a source, then it is a particularly bad source," said Lawn.

"Peter had a discussion with (fellow joint-chairman) Julian Rhodes and myself last week but at no time was there anything like that mentioned.

"All I can put it down to is people clutching at straws because we haven't had the best results," he added.

Stockport themselves have not had the best of starts and yesterday appointed Ken Graham and Mike Clark to the club's board of directors after chief executive Sean Connolly left.

Sheffield United are hoping to reach an agreement with their Yorkshire Championship rivals Hull City over the loan signing of Hungarian winger Peter Halmosi this week.

Blades manager Gary Speed has made no secret of his desire to draft in a wide midfielder when the loan transfer window opens, while Halmosi is one of several players Hull want to off-load in order to reduce their wage bill.

But any possible move reportedly depends on the Tigers reaching a financial agreement with Halmosi – a 2m signing from Plymouth – who is understood to earn 15,000 a week at the KC Stadium, having signed for then Premier League newboys City in July 2008.