Peter Jackson revealed he did not sleep for two days after getting the call to take over City.

Jackson was buzzing after taking his first training session yesterday as the club’s interim manager.

It ended his 18-month isolation from the game which followed the axe at Lincoln in 2009.

Jackson admitted: “I thought football had passed me by a little bit. I was a little disillusioned with what happened but now I’m back.

“I’ve not just been sat at home. My wife and I set up our own care industry, which has been a different challenge.

“But I can’t express what it means for me to be back and how excited I am that it’s this club.

“I’ll never ever give Lincoln stick because they stuck with me through the problems I had with my throat.

“I was disappointed with how it ended there but that’s football. One minute you’re in, the next you’re not.

“I’ve not slept at all the last two days thinking about everything. It’s great and long may that continue.”

Jackson, who will watch the reserves against Port Vale tonight, is in charge for the next two games at least – Gillingham away on Saturday and home to Rotherham next Tuesday – while City work through potential candidates for the full-time post.

One was interviewed yesterday morning but Jackson is not perturbed that Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn will still be looking around.

“I’m not looking over my shoulder,” he added. “I’m just concentrating on the team and looking forward to Gillingham at the weekend.

“That’s how I have to treat it. I know the full tale of what’s going on and nothing is happening behind my back.

“Everyone’s up front about it and it’s up to me to make sure I’m still here after the Rotherham game next week.

“I appreciate this chance. Mark was a true Bradford City fan when I was a player and I’ve known Julian for a while.

“I told them that I’ll come in and take the pressure off and do the job while they sift through the applicants.

“I’m confident in my own ability that I can do this and it’s down to me to prove it.”

Jackson knows some City fans will not forgive his Huddersfield connections and a throwaway comment he made as Town boss that he would “always bleed blue and white”.

He said: “Some people will always bring that up. But I’m manager of Bradford City now, this is my club and this is my time.

“I never meant anything by it. It’s the same when I went to Lincoln and I said I was red and white.

“Wherever I’m working, I will always give 110 per cent commitment, whether it’s for eight days, eight months or eight years.

“I’m a football manager who gives it his all. But this club means more to me than anything because it’s my home town and it’s special.

“Hopefully if I can get this job (permanently), it would be a true highlight of my career.”

Jackson has told the players that places are all up for grabs and has named a strong squad at Eccleshill tonight.

Saturday’s match-winner against Stockport, Gareth Evans, is among eight first-teamers on duty.

City reserves (from): McLaughlin, Dean, Horne, Robinson, Harrop, Threlfall, Evans, Adeyemi, Mitchell, Flett, Worthington, Stephenson, Osborne, Dobie, Speight, Saxton.