Bantams boss gives early warning to out-of-favour players

The Bantams boss used last week’s retained list discussions to also speak with those contracted members of the squad who have not been involved.

And he has made it clear that they should start looking elsewhere for the chance to play regularly again.

Vadaine Oliver, who spent the second half of the season on loan with Stevenage, was not able to make it to the meeting.

But Alexander plans to sit down with the big striker, who still has another year to run on the deal he signed when Mark Hughes brought him from Gillingham in the summer of 2022.

The 32-year-old has had a tough time with injuries at Valley Parade.

After undergoing knee surgery in April last year, he then tore his groin off the bone in the first week of pre-season – which kept him out until the end of November.

Oliver came off the bench to score against Liverpool under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy but started only once for City in the same competition at Derby.

His last outing was as a sub at Colchester in mid-January before linking up with his former Gills boss Steve Evans at Stevenage.

Oliver made 14 appearances for the League One club, seven of them starts, but did not score.

Alexander insisted he wanted to be up front with players who he doesn’t expect to feature.

“I did speak to three or four individuals and just put them in the picture of what I saw going into next year,” he said.

“I told them that they’d probably have minimal opportunities next season and it’s up to them to deal with that information how they see fit.

“I didn’t want to get into the situation where we are four or five weeks into pre-season and two or three individuals are asking why they are not playing in this or that game.

“I wanted to be up front and clear with them. They were good as well.

“I think they respected my honesty which is what I always craved as a player.

“Sometimes it might be something you don’t particularly want to hear. But there are no mixed messages and you get a clear picture.

Defender Timi Odusina spent last season on loan at Woking (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“It may not be great at the time but I always think it’s better to be honest. I think in a year’s time, that’s when you look back and see that it was right to do that.”

Centre half Timi Odusina spent the whole of the last campaign at Woking, where he played 18 times, and is another with 12 months remaining on City’s books.

Kevin McDonald may also be one that City will look to move on. He was not involved in the squad for the final seven games after the Harrogate defeat.

And Ash Taylor, who was injured during the closing stages of the season, is another not expected to see much game time.

Alexander added: “We haven’t got games coming right up so this is the time when we can make really clear decisions and give honest opinions.

“I didn’t want to get a point six or seven weeks down the line when we’ve signed players and then this guy is suddenly told that he won’t be playing.

“That’s when I would look at myself and think, ‘that’s well out of order.’ I don’t want to be like that.

“We are going to recruit and bring players in so I just wanted to give people the heads-up of what that would mean when we return to training.”

Sam Stubbs and captain Richie Smallwood both automatically triggered one-year contract extensions after reaching appearance targets during the season.

“Stubbsy unfortunately picked up that injury which kept him out for the end of the season,” said Alexander. “But we look forward to reintroducing him back into the squad in pre-season.

“Richie is our captain and I really value his leadership and qualities, so I’m delighted he’s with us for another year.”