Alan Connell is relishing a League One reunion with the manager who launched his professional career.

The Bantams will make their return to the third tier after a six-year exile with a trip to relegated Bristol City.

Striker Connell is licking his lips at the prospect of playing higher-division football again next season – and facing his old boss Sean O’Driscoll on the opening weekend.

Connell, whose promotion with City took his personal tally to four, said: “I was 19 and had just been released by Ipswich when Sean offered me a deal at Bournemouth.

“He gave me my first pro contract there and my Foot-ball League debut (against Kidderminster) and I will always be grateful to him for that.

“I was with him for three years and he helped me a lot with regards to what professional football was all about. I still get on well with him.

“I’m really looking forward to the new season anyway and meeting up with him again on August 3 will make it even better.”

Bristol City finished ten points adrift at the bottom of the Championship last term but have still been installed as one of the early promotion favourites with the bookies.

Connell expects O’Driscoll to have them up there challenging – if they can handle the expectancy from the supporters.

“His teams are known for passing the ball but sometimes there is a misconception that’s all they are capable of doing. It’s not just all about being nice to watch and he knows what it takes to get results.

“Bristol City are a massive club for this level and I’d expect them to have a good season.

“But as a team who’ve dropped down you know there will always be that expectation to bounce straight back.

“It’s a tough start but the pressure will be off us going down there, which will be different from last season.”

Connell admitted it is not just the fans who are buzzing for the big League One kick-off. With the new fixtures now out, he is counting down the days until City lock horns with the likes of Wolves and Sheffield United.

He added: “I didn’t think League One had the ‘wow’ factor last year but it’s certainly got that this season. You look down the list and there are going to be some exciting games.

“It makes a lot better reading than what we had last year and makes you realise again what we have achieved.

“There are some real stand-out teams in League One but we aren’t in there just to make up the numbers. We intend to be very competitive.”

The Ashton Gate opener is followed by the Capital One Cup showdown with Huddersfield as City are thrown straight into the deep end.

Connell said: “They are two big games we’re really looking forward to, Bristol City for obvious reasons because it’s our first in League One and then the local derby at Huddersfield where we should take a lot of supporters.

“It’s a really hard way to begin the season. But we started with two away games last year and didn’t do too bad, so hopefully that’s a good omen.”