STEPHEN Darby admits he is leaving City with a "heavy heart" after revealing he was keen to stay at the club.

But the former captain bears no grudges after five fantastic seasons as he wished the Bantams "all the success in the world".

The right back is on the lookout for a new club having not being offered a new contract.

After being an automatic starter for almost all of his first four seasons, the popular defender lost his regular spot to Tony McMahon in the last campaign.

However, he said: "I would have loved to have stayed at Bradford and carried on our journey.

"We have improved each year and that’s what you want to do as a football club. You want to keep progressing so obviously that is something I will certainly miss and hopefully one day I’ll be back.

"I wasn’t given the option to stay but that’s football and that happens."

The 29-year-old, who took over the captain's armband when Gary Jones moved on in 2014, has etched his name in City folklore as one of the history-making squad who reached Wembley twice in one season, won promotion to League One and claimed cup scalps in Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa.

He said: "I’m obviously gutted that I am leaving the club because it is a special place and has always got a special place in my heart.

"It is with a heavy heart that I am leaving but I am taking a way a lot more from the club in terms of memories, experiences, friendships and everything about it.

"I wish the club and everyone involved all the success in the world and no more so than the fans because they are the very best.

"It was an honour to play for Bradford but to captain them as well was a privilege. To walk out in front of those fans week in, week out was only something you can dream of.

"To captain the team on those special days like at Chelsea – no one can take that away from you and it will be with you for the rest of your life."

Darby's whole-hearted attitude and commitment to the City cause made him popular with the Valley Parade faithful throughout his time at the club.

And the defender reciprocated his appreciation, saying: "I just want to say 'thank you' to the fans, not only for the support they have given the club but also myself over the five years.

"They have made it feel like home. Every time I walked out on to the pitch I thought I gave everything and the support they gave back was brilliant. They are one of the best sets of supporters around."