Gary Bowyer has been outlining his intentions for Bradford City next season on their official club website, as they face up to life in the basement division once again.

The Bantams earned promotion from League Two in 2013 and as recently as Christmas 2017 were in the hunt for promotion to the Championship.

A calamitous eighteen months under former chairman Edin Rahic saw managers come and go, with the club entering freefall. They were the first to be relegated from League One, despite former Blackpool man Bowyer taking over.

He's now focused on the task in hand, telling the club website exactly what he expects from his players this pre-season.

“This year’s pre-season will be a very tough one for the players, for sure," said the 47-year-old.

“There has already been a lot of planning, and a lot of preparation has gone into it. We have a fantastic selection of games which all present different challenges."

The first of those challenges will be fitness, which means a punishing schedule for the players ahead of the curtain-raiser against Cambridge at Valley Parade.

“We need to get the players in the correct physical condition to cope with different situations in those matches - and deal with the demands of next season. We will make sure we do that.

“I think the main thing, next season, is the fact we must be competitive. We need to be consistent and patient over the course of nine months. More than anything, we have to be ready to combat what this league offers."

Bowyer has previously won promotion from League Two with Blackpool, guiding them to a play-off success against Exeter City in 2017.

The Verdict

Bowyer is a man who already knows this level and, if his signings are anything to go by, he's being backed well. Clayton Donaldson should be an imposing figure at this level and as for Paudie O'Connor; what a great signing he is.

Bowyer will have to change their mindset though. They often looked a beaten team before they kicked off last season, with morale at an all-time low under David Hopkin. They lacked attacking ideas and even after Bowyer came in, they struggled.

Perhaps that was as much a hangover from the Rahic administration as anything, but Bowyer has to ensure they're not complacent.

League Two has a tough roster this year, all the sides coming down have appointed good, proven managers. Add in ambitious clubs already established at that level such as Northampton and Carlisle, as well as the money behind Salford, and you have a tough competition.