Bradford City have won their battle to free Gareth Whalley to play against Swindon Town tomorrow.

The 24-year-old midfielder has been selected for the Republic of Ireland's squad to travel to Yugoslavia for next Wednesday's Euro 2000 qualifier.

Irish manager Mick McCarthy intended invoking a five-day rule which would have prevented Whalley and several other Irish stars playing tomorrow.

Despite the situation being settled in his favour, City boss Paul Jewell has criticised FIFA and the Irish Football Association for the unsettling effect the tug-of-war saga has had on his preparations.

He said: "It is ridiculous and was doing no-one any good. I have had two teams in my mind and that should not have been the case so close to a league game."

Chairman Geoffrey Richmond said that City, in common with all the other clubs affected, had lobbied the FA, FAI and FIFA.

He added: "We are delighted. It is a victory for common sense. Gareth will fly to Dublin tomorrow evening."

City will, however, be without Stuart McCall, who is serving a one match suspension after picking up five bookings.

The City boss remained tight-lipped about who will replace his captain although Nigel Pepper must be favourite.

City could be boosted by the return to the squad of Lee Todd, providing the defender comes through training today unscathed after missing two games with a hamstring strain.

The Bantams are boosted by the news that top scorer Lee Mills will be fit to play despite receiving some heavy punishment from the Tranmere defence on Tuesday night. Mills' strike partner Isaiah Rankin has also recovered from a dead leg.

Swindon welcome back Mark Walters after suspension although midfielder Darren Bullock will be out after picking up eight bookings to earn his second ban of the season. George Ndah is out with a knee injury while Town will be looking to former Huddersfield striker Iffy Onuora to continue the fine form which has brought him 11 goals this season.

The City boss said: "Chris Hutchings has watched Swindon and we know they are a decent side. They have already beaten Huddersfield quite convincingly so we know it won't be easy.

"My old team-mate Jimmy Quinn has taken charge at Swindon and had a positive effect on the results."

City: (from) Walsh, Prudhoe, Lawrence, Jacobs, Moore, Westwood, O'Brien, Blake, Beagrie, Whalley, Pepper, Bolland, Mills, Rankin, Watson, Todd.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.