Taylor throws down the gauntlet to City players

The 57-year-old met the Bantams squad for the first time yesterday after being appointed until the summer.

As Taylor revealed exclusively to the Yorkshire Post earlier this week, he wants to remain at Valley Parade for the long term.

And the new Bradford manager has underlined his intention to stick around by revealing how early the planning must start for the 2010-11 campaign.

He said: "A few years ago, no-one would have dreamed of offering someone a job until the end of the season but it is how it is nowadays. The offer I accepted was until the end of the season but I want it to be longer.

"I told the players (yesterday morning) 'I am here for 15 weeks but I hope it is two or three years and 15 weeks'.

"It is up to me to come here and prove I should be kept longer. I am sure once we are into those 15 weeks and everyone is happy then it can be extended."

Taylor has not given up on Bradford forcing their way into the play-offs this term with 19 games still to play.

However, should a place in the top seven prove beyond the club, City's new manager insists the coming months will be vital in terms of building a side capable of winning promotion next season.

He said: "It is a big help to be in now. If a manager knows he is at a club next season, that helps his planning."

On the squad he has inherited from Stuart McCall, Taylor has stressed it is up to the players to prove their worth at Valley Parade – especially as more than half are believed to be out of contract in the summer.

The new Bantams chief, who has only worked with goalkeeper Matt Glennon in the past, said: "I have been in football a bit of time now and I have made it clear to the players that every time you get that list of released players in the summer it is longer.

"They have to realise that a positive finish would benefit everyone. The players were very quiet early on in training (yesterday) but, in the end, we had a good session. By the end, they were a lot noisier.

"Managers moving on happens and it is just a case of getting used to a new voice. We had a very good meeting after training and we all agree the recent form is not what anyone expects.

"Stuart decided to leave last week. He is a very good man who loves his football club. It will have been a tough decision for him and I said to the players 'you have to take some responsibility for it'."

Taylor, who intends to retain Wayne Jacobs on the coaching staff, knows all about League Two having led Wycombe Wanderers to promotion last season.

Having also led Hull City out of the basement division in 2004, Taylor knows exactly what it takes to succeed at this level and will move into the loan market if the players he has inherited do not prove up to the job.

He said: "The players will be given every opportunity to show me what they can do. I want to give these players a chance.

"But if things don't pick up then that is when I will be asking the board very politely if I can improve the squad.

"Having spoken to Wayne (Jacobs) and David (Wetherall), if I think there is something in the team we have not got then maybe I won't hang around. I will try and get a loan in straight away."

Taylor's first game in charge will be at Accrington Stanley this Saturday as City look to end a wretched run of just one win in eight league outings.

He added: "I am looking forward to Saturday. I want us to have a positive finish and to make sure the supporters are looking forward to next season."