Although Bradford City finished last season sat in 14th in the league and not as high as they would've wanted, they started to show good signs under the management of Mark Hughes.

They've also started the transfer window on a great note so far. Despite the window only officially opening today, plenty of signings have already been made in preparation for next season.

However, it's not just new players who are coming in with new contracts having also been signed and Mark Hughes is keen to ensure it will not be a completely new dressing room next year as he told Telegraph & Argus: "The fundamentals are going to be there. We're going to have a core group that have worked with us right from the start.

"That work we've done with them will hopefully be filtered to the guys that are new to what we're about.

"That happens very quickly. It's about standards and the level that we train and play at.

"Players will have to get up to that very quickly if it's a level that they are not used to.

"We're hoping that we're going to get guys in the building used to training at a high level and that's their expectation. That will obviously raise the group to another level, which is important to us."

Furthermore, he went on the emphasise the importance of team work at the club as he said: "We can help to explain things to new players who come into the club.

"We need to just try and help each other. That's the only way we're going to get out of this division if we all fully understand what we are trying to do here."

 

 

The Verdict: 

Mark Hughes has got his first summer as Bradford manager off to a great start so far and although there have been many new signings, the focus on ensuring there is also a core of players already in place is just as important.

Having the continuity will mean that the project he has already started building can grow much easier rather than having to start from scratch again.

Furthermore, with new players coming in and training it will cause everyone to keep their standards high as they look ahead to the new season.

There is still a lot of work to be done between now and the start of the new season but Hughes seems to be creating a great environment at the club and as long as the signings are right then this could be the start of a successful period for the Bantams.