Parkinson on mission to reward Bradford City fans (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Phil Parkinson on mission to reward Bradford City fans
7:40am Monday 11th June 2012 in Sport
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Phil Parkinson hopes signing the likes of Rory McArdle shows City’s intent for next season
Phil Parkinson admits the onus is on him to build a squad to give City’s huge army of fans something to shout about next season.
The Bantams have already secured the services of Andrew Davies and Rory McArdle this summer and more new faces are expected.
The capture of the defensive pair has encouraged hopes that Parkinson can preside over a serious promotion push next term.
City will be backed in big numbers again after over 8,000 supporters snapped up season tickets and Parkinson is desperate to repay their faith.
Moreover, he is happy to face competition for the signature of players rather than sign waifs and strays who could not find a contract elsewhere.
Parkinson said: “It’s been a huge bonus for everybody at the club again to get the amount of season ticket holders that we’ve got.
I’d rather work hard and get a player that we’re really happy with than take somebody who I don’t face any competition for
Phil Parkinson
“It’s absolutely tremendous but now we’ve got to reward that loyalty by a producing a good squad and a good side. That’s what I’m trying to do.
“I’ve said many times before that it’s not easy because you have to compete with other clubs for players like Rory McArdle and Andrew Davies to get them on board.
“But I’d rather work hard and get a player that we’re really happy with than take somebody who I don’t face any competition for.
“People know the potential of Bradford City but we’ve got to start fulfilling that potential.
“The only way we can do that is by getting a good team out on the pitch. That’s what we’re working towards but we’ve got a long way to go yet.”
Parkinson has his eye on a number of players and could yet lure striker Andy Gray back to Valley Parade following initial talks with the veteran frontman.
The Bantams boss said: “We’re working on things behind the scenes and will hopefully have some more good news soon.”
Out-of-contract trio Luke Oliver, Simon Ramsden and David Syers have each been offered new deals for next season and Parkinson expects to hear from them within the next fortnight.
He said: “We’re negotiating with Simon, David and Ollie and are waiting to hear from them really. I’m sure in the next week or so we will have a conclusion on those three players.”
Comments(21)
Prisoner Cell Block A
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8:22am Mon 11 Jun 12
Correctness
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8:32am Mon 11 Jun 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
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9:11am Mon 11 Jun 12
ALEXIMO.56.
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9:39am Mon 11 Jun 12
Correctness wrote:Try to be possitive about this season. Parky has let about 10 players go and plans to bring in Quality for the promotion push. All this negative talk about.... the same was said for the last 3 seasons or the same was promised for the last 3 seasons. Time to forget the past because that was hundreds of years ago. What's important now is the Present and the future. We have sold over 8,000 s/ts and yes 1500 are 50/50s but once the signings start to flood in, those that didn't buy before the deadline will be back to pay full price. It's the same every season, about 2,000 fans pay the full price and I still believe that we will sell over 10k. Once the squad is in place and the season starts, that's when we start to judge the manager and let's give him til xmas and see where we are then. Going back to the 50/50 mob, It doesn't mean after 15 games, that they will stop coming. If we are winning games and near the top those guys will probably attend every game and that means they would have paid over the season £300. I have been saying this all last season and I will stick with it. Last season was about rebuilding and staying in the league and this coming season is about winning promotion to L/1. I firmly believe that we WILL win promotion. It seems to me that you are one of the City fans who expect city to win promotion every season and just because we were in the prem for a couple of seasons, you probably think that we have a god given right to be there again. It could be another 10yrs befor the club get a sniff of the prem. Back in the late 80's, I said to a friend, If I, in my lifetime ever saw City lift a trophy at Wembley and play in the top league, I would die a happy man. It has happened. 96 & 99.
Just the same talk as last season, the year before and the year before that and no doubt the same will be next season. Only difference is next season a good chance of playing local derby's.
ALEXIMO.56.
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9:55am Mon 11 Jun 12
prince35 wrote:It's has been said earlier by another poster, that if they no longer wish to play for BCFC then show them the door and don't waste time in replacing them.
As regards olle,syers,ramsden, lets look at it this way.
Ramsden still has to prove his fitness, the club stood by him through his injury nightmare and would any club offer him a contract?. Ollie was immense last season and,won player of the year , but does he really want to stay? I suggest hes looking at other offers , so to me its took to long for him to sign.
Syers has also been injured through last season an although hes an attacking box to box mid player, where else will he get a decent contract?
Edinburgh -bantam
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10:18am Mon 11 Jun 12
bigstar
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10:24am Mon 11 Jun 12
prince35 wrote:Are u being serious? Aside from to me it seeming a bit far fetched, he moved out of his flat in my building last month, so if he was planning on staying in the area ud have thought he'd stay in Leeds.
As regards olle,syers,ramsden, lets look at it this way. Ramsden still has to prove his fitness, the club stood by him through his injury nightmare and would any club offer him a contract?. Ollie was immense last season and,won player of the year , but does he really want to stay? I suggest hes looking at other offers , so to me its took to long for him to sign. Syers has also been injured through last season an although hes an attacking box to box mid player, where else will he get a decent contract?
bigstar
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10:25am Mon 11 Jun 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
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10:35am Mon 11 Jun 12
claretstripe
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10:49am Mon 11 Jun 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:i believe the leeds player is Grella? I heard he had a medical over a week ago.
That was me and we have def signed a winger from Leeds this weekend just gone. The name was unknown and still is but I have it from the same source I got the McArdle rumour from. Which was spot on.
Prisoner Cell Block A
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11:25am Mon 11 Jun 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
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12:27pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Having scored four goals in his short spell with the club, manager Richard Barker offered Grella new a deal for the 2012-13 season. However, Grella rejected a new deal after agreeing terms with an as yet unnamed club. After his move, Barker says that "He became extremely popular with the fans, the players and my (Richard Barker) staff".
ricky76
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12:32pm Mon 11 Jun 12
KnightMcCall
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12:37pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Seems unlikely that Grella would come to City when he has offers from League One and Championship; apparently. Blackpool could be his destination.
Not Nunez but Grella by the look of this. Having scored four goals in his short spell with the club, manager Richard Barker offered Grella new a deal for the 2012-13 season. However, Grella rejected a new deal after agreeing terms with an as yet unnamed club. After his move, Barker says that "He became extremely popular with the fans, the players and my (Richard Barker) staff".
TBS
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12:44pm Mon 11 Jun 12
If Ollie wants to move then i've always said i'd love so see Andy O'Brien back in the squad.
Waynus1971
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12:50pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Apparently not. Whilst still under contract to Leeds, he joined Carlisle and then Swindon on loan, until the end of the 2010/11 season.
That would make more sense but is Grella a Leeds player or did Carlisle sign him? Season long loan to them?
.
His contract then ended with Leeds and he became a free agent. He signed a 12mnth deal with Brentford, but failed to establish himself in their side. His contract was subsequently ended by mutual consent in February 2012 and he then joined Bury until the end of the season.
.
Although popular at Gigg Lane and was offered a longer contract, he has turned them down. I found one quote regarding his current situation; "Having scored four goals in his short spell with the club, manager Richard Barker offered Grella new a deal for the 2012-13 season. However, he rejected the new deal after agreeing terms with an as yet unnamed club".
.
That may be City, but didn't this player turn us down in September 2010, when we tried to sign him?
ricky76
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1:33pm Mon 11 Jun 12
TBS wrote:Radio Sheffield also reporting a possible deal for Westcarr
I though Craig Westcarr wasn't a bad player at all, would be interesting to see if he made the move.
If Ollie wants to move then i've always said i'd love so see Andy O'Brien back in the squad.
Prisoner Cell Block A
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3:22pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Waynus1971 wrote:I think he did mate, that is the same excerpt from wiki that I read.
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Apparently not. Whilst still under contract to Leeds, he joined Carlisle and then Swindon on loan, until the end of the 2010/11 season.
That would make more sense but is Grella a Leeds player or did Carlisle sign him? Season long loan to them?
.
His contract then ended with Leeds and he became a free agent. He signed a 12mnth deal with Brentford, but failed to establish himself in their side. His contract was subsequently ended by mutual consent in February 2012 and he then joined Bury until the end of the season.
.
Although popular at Gigg Lane and was offered a longer contract, he has turned them down. I found one quote regarding his current situation; "Having scored four goals in his short spell with the club, manager Richard Barker offered Grella new a deal for the 2012-13 season. However, he rejected the new deal after agreeing terms with an as yet unnamed club".
.
That may be City, but didn't this player turn us down in September 2010, when we tried to sign him?
Botswana Bantam
says...
4:06pm Mon 11 Jun 12
One Bury fan says he's "their best striker"....
http://www.burytimes
.co.uk/sport/footbal
l/shakers/shakersupd
ates/9735284.Grella_
set_for_move_after_s
nub_to_Shakers/
seasidebantam
says...
1:19am Tue 12 Jun 12
many thanks
seaside bantam
prince35 says...
8:15am Mon 11 Jun 12
Ramsden still has to prove his fitness, the club stood by him through his injury nightmare and would any club offer him a contract?. Ollie was immense last season and,won player of the year , but does he really want to stay? I suggest hes looking at other offers , so to me its took to long for him to sign.
Syers has also been injured through last season an although hes an attacking box to box mid player, where else will he get a decent contract?