Allamby will ensure Bradford City players are in good Nick (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Allamby will ensure Bradford City players are in good Nick

7:10am Saturday 7th July 2012 in Sport By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Nick Allamby has joined City on a full-time basis

Phil Parkinson has pledged to leave “no stone unturned” in making sure City are fit for purpose next term.

Pre-season begins properly for the players on Monday after two days of fitness testing.

They had also been called in a couple of weeks ago for individual checks to make sure everyone was sticking to their off-season programmes.

Parkinson is determined his squad are in prime condition to hit the ground running when the new campaign begins at Martin Allen’s Gillingham six weeks today.

He said: “We want everyone to be coming back in a good place. That’s why we had the tests last month to let (fitness coach) Nick Allamby have a good look at them.

“We’re all aware it’s going to be a very important season for everybody. We’re not leaving any stone unturned.”

Former Middlesbrough fitness guru Allamby will play a significant role in drilling the players into shape.

Having joined the club last season on a consultancy basis, Parkinson was keen to get him nailed down again on a full-time deal. The Bantams chief added: “Nick is top drawer at what he does and we’re really pleased to get him back. It’s as important as any signing.

“I spoke to the two chairmen at the end of last season about the importance of sports science.

“It helps younger players to progress in terms of fitness, strength and power and it keeps the older ones playing on as long as possible.

“If we don’t have that sports science in our club, we will get left behind.

“The manager’s budget is about getting good players in and getting the best of the ones you’ve already got. But you’ve also got to have the right facilities and surroundings.

“Nick coming in, the training pitches we are hoping to finalise and the pre-season tour to Ireland are all things which add up to hopefully making a difference over the course of the year.

“Unless you’ve got the biggest budget in the division by a mile, you’ve got to increase your chances in other areas. Key performance factors are so important if you want to be successful.”

Allamby was brought in by former number two Colin Cooper but Parkinson kept the 38-year-old on after being impressed by his methods.

Allamby said: “If a manager doesn’t really believe in sports science or certain fitness methods, then my line of work is never going to fit in.

“Luckily though, the manager fully understands the need to use sports science within football.”

City will have a fortnight of training to prepare before their first competitive run-out at Tadcaster Albion on July 21.