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  • "No doubting this is an excellent signing.

    A brave, and to be commended, move considering the dire season ticket sales.

    PP now has no alternative but to play high tempo, positive football because we're going to have to depend on the 50/50 scheme holders coming back every other week to make up the shortfall in income.

    The Board have financially backed the manager since he's been here. Another three quality signings and we have the makings of a promotion seeking squad....but I remain to be convinced that the manager has the ability to translate "quality of squad" to "success on the pitch"."
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'A terrific first signing' for Bradford City as Andrew Davies returns

6:00am Thursday 24th May 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker , Bradford City Reporter

Phil Parkinson is hoping Andrew Davies’ signature will help to persuade more of his summer targets to come on board at Valley Parade Phil Parkinson is hoping Andrew Davies’ signature will help to persuade more of his summer targets to come on board at Valley Parade

Andrew Davies today kicked off City’s summer shopping with a bang after agreeing a one-year deal.

The former Premier League centre half was thought to be out of the club’s reach following his loan spell last season.

But Phil Parkinson has beaten off higher-division interest, led by Greg Abbott’s Carlisle, to snap up the 27-year-old.

Davies will sign officially on July 1 after his contract runs out at Stoke. But his capture is a huge coup for the Bantams and manager Parkinson.

He said: “Andrew’s a terrific first signing for us. He was one I really wanted to do.

“He has played at the highest level but has shown in his time on loan with us a great commitment. I like his hunger and his real desire to be successful.

He (Phil Parkinson) has told me what he is trying to do here and I’m enthusiastic about some of the other signings he hopes to make

Andrew Davies

“I had a good chat with him and he wants to come on board. He is a leader and has that mentality that we want to instill into this club.

“He sees this as a real challenge and wants to progress with us.”

Davies was a huge favourite with supporters during his loan. He made 30 appearances, scoring twice, although his season was blighted by three red cards.

He missed 12 games through suspension – five after the infamous post-match brawl with Crawley – before returning to the back four to shut out champions Swindon at Valley Parade on the final day.

Davies has had to take a significant pay cut from the £15,000 a week he was believed to be earning at the Britannia.

But he admitted his mind was made up by Parkinson and his ambitious plans.

“I’ve been really impressed by the manager,” he said. “He’s told me what he is trying to do here and I’m enthusiastic about some of the other signings he hopes to make.

“This is a massive club with fantastic supporters and I believe we’ve got a really good chance of going up next year.”

With only a week to the season-ticket deadline, City are confident the Davies announcement will spark a rush of sales.

He could also prove a persuasive factor in getting other Parkinson targets to follow suit.

Parkinson added: “Signing Andrew shows the quality of players we are looking to bring in.”

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