MICHAEL Collins believes City’s squad strengthening plans are on course but has warned prospective recruits: You’ll only be joining us for the right reasons.

The squad have been taken away to a training camp in Chester for the first full week of intensive pre-season work.

The opening friendly looms on Saturday at Farsley Celtic as the players settle in to the build-up for the League One curtain-raiser on August 4.

Collins is happy with how his squad is shaping up so far and is confident numbers will continue to be swelled in the next few weeks.

But he insists any transfer targets must have the right motivation to want to sign.

Collins said: “The name and the size of the club speaks for itself.

“The challenge for us now is to make sure that we aren’t just known for that but for the football that we play and we’re winning matches.

“For any player, Bradford City is one that certainly sparks interest because of the fanbase and the great stadium.

“But we’ve also got to be careful. We don’t just want people here so they can say ‘I’m a Bradford City player’.

“We don’t want anyone just coming for those reasons and that’s why we are doing as much due diligence as we possibly can.

“We want to see players develop themselves here and help the club get better. That’s very important to us.”

City have been linked with imposing Northampton midfielder Matt Crooks.

Recent reports in Germany have also claimed they had an offer knocked back for centre forward Streli Mamba of Energie Cottbus and are interested in Holstein Kiel keeper Bernd Schipmann.

Collins is giving little away but stressed the club’s transfer “team” are doing plenty of homework.

He added: “I’ve personally watched hours and hours of footage. We’re watching all elements, what they are like on and off the ball, how they apply themselves and the work ethic.

“Add to that the references that we try and get hold of speaking to people within the game to make sure we know what they are like.

“A lot of boxes have to get ticked for us to pursue a player.

“We’re keeping our cards close to our chest and don’t want to give too much away about what we are looking for. But we’re happy with where we are at right now.

“Those processes are well on-going and in the next couple of weeks hopefully we’ll have some further down the line or completed.

“The good thing is the lads have come back and shown they are going to be on board with everything.”

Meanwhile, City have announced new season ticket prices leading up to the first game at Shrewsbury.

Until Friday, August 3, an adult ticket will now cost £230, concessions £184, juniors £129 and under-11s £49. The club say sales have topped 14,000 so far.