Bradford City shelve pursuit of Gray (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford City shelve pursuit of Andy Gray
7:40am Tuesday 17th July 2012 in Sport
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Andy Gray is looking to earn a deal with Leeds
City have called time on Andy Gray as their forward focus switches elsewhere.
Phil Parkinson would like to add one more striker to his Valley Parade personnel. But it will not be long-term target Gray after the club decided it was dragging on too long.
The Telegraph & Argus revealed two months ago that the former Bantam was in their sights after leaving Barnsley.
After talking to Gray, they were quite hopeful that he would be prepared to drop down two levels to rejoin the club he left during the second administration.
But the 34-year-old also wanted to hang on for any potential higher-division approaches before committing and he is now on trial with Leeds, looking to earn a deal with his former boss Neil Warnock.
The Bantams have given up on waiting and have other names under consideration.
Parkinson said: “We had an interest in Andy earlier in the summer but he was only one of a number of strikers we’ve been speaking to, as was the case with players for other positions.
“If we can do a deal with a striker which we believe improves what we’ve already got, then we will do.
“Hopefully we will be able to seal a deal for one sooner rather than later. Ideally we would like to try to do something before going to Ireland.
“But equally, if not we still feel we’ve got five good options fighting for those positions.”
City are counting down to their opening pre-season friendly against Tadcaster Albion on Saturday. Parkinson is planning to give the full squad a run-out at the Northern Counties East League side.
“Everyone’s looking forward to playing a game and we’re looking for a good build-up this week,” he said.
“All the lads will play 45 minutes. They are at a good level of fitness and, barring any injuries this week, they should be fine to make a contribution.”
Meanwhile Marcel Seip is returning to Holland. The versatile defender, who played 27 games for City last season, has signed a one-year deal with VVV Venlo.
Venlo beat off interest from Poland and Turkey for the 30-year-old, who has been training with the Dutch club for the past fortnight.
Seip said: “After six years in England, I’m back to the Eredivisie. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Comments(23)
citygent1978
says...
7:57am Tue 17 Jul 12
ALEXIMO.56.
says...
7:58am Tue 17 Jul 12
Freddy
says...
8:20am Tue 17 Jul 12
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If Gray ends up at another L.2 Club--what's the betting he will score against City??. I hope not!.
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Time for our 'Stand Managers' to suggest more Striker Names--More Mid-Field Names; plus the odd defender and Keeper???. ( BEFORE THE SQUAD GOES TO IRELAND!!--LoL!!)
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Meat Pie
says...
8:31am Tue 17 Jul 12
His gene-pool is also very questionable !
Oliver's shinpad
says...
8:42am Tue 17 Jul 12
1 bingley bantam
says...
8:43am Tue 17 Jul 12
Hope he ends up at an inferior lg2 club on less money than we offered him the way he has treated us is an absolute disgrace.
To some extent were as daft for letting it drag on so long.
Meat Pie
says...
8:51am Tue 17 Jul 12
Oliver's shinpad wrote:IT'S SO HE CAN SHOUT AT US IN WRITTEN FORM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT HE IS TRYING TO SAY AND IF HE AND ALL THE OTHERS ON HERE THAT DO IT REEPATEDLY KEEP ON DOING IT THEN WE WILL BETTER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MESSAGE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET ACROSS.
I DON'T KNOW where freddy went to SCHOOL, but his perennial misuse OF CAPITAL letters never FAILS to amuse me.
Village Bantam
says...
9:12am Tue 17 Jul 12
J4CKO
says...
9:12am Tue 17 Jul 12
dazp
says...
9:17am Tue 17 Jul 12
tyker2
says...
10:24am Tue 17 Jul 12
He is not what we need:we should have a rule that we only sign players who will be 30 when their contract expires.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
11:31am Tue 17 Jul 12
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:Mr Lawn's choice? Mr Rhodes choice?
Thank heavens for that. 2 or 3 months wasted waiting for him to decide. Well done City, we should have told him to do one after the 1st month. We have all said in our posts, that If he really wanted to come back, then he would have decided there and then. Now Gray, Mr Lawn's choice, is ready to sign for Leeds, let's go for Billy Paynter. Mr Rhodes choice.
I was under the impression that Parkinson is the guy who picked the team.
ricky76
says...
11:58am Tue 17 Jul 12
tyker2 wrote:why wasnt it the dads army that kept us in the prem the first season. Age is just a number ask Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes both can still do a job in the prem it doesnt matter how old or young you are its what you can bring to the team to improve it that matters. I would have 11 players over 30 if the can do a good job than have 11 players who can just do the basics.
what was the point in all of this for city?
He is not what we need:we should have a rule that we only sign players who will be 30 when their contract expires.
Danstarr69
says...
12:10pm Tue 17 Jul 12
If Parky hasn't been trying to sign others and has put all his faith in signing Gray then he's an idiot.
That only gives him from now until the start of the season to sign another decent striker. I hope he's been keeping his options open and we sign someone this week.
northyorksbantam
says...
1:36pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Danstarr69 wrote:Its not Parky that has been bigging up the Andy Gray rumour for the last couple of months... it has been Parker and the T&A giving it the headlines and not letting it go, which got pretty irritating quite frankly.
What I want to know is why Parker has put "now under consideration" when Parky has been insisting he's been speaking to others aswell as Gray. If Parky hasn't been trying to sign others and has put all his faith in signing Gray then he's an idiot. That only gives him from now until the start of the season to sign another decent striker. I hope he's been keeping his options open and we sign someone this week.
Parky has actually played it down whenever he has been quoted on the subject and of course he will have other irons in the fire..its just he keeps his transfer business low key and doesn't discuss much which is probably why the T&A have to make a big issue of the scraps they get hold of.
tyker2
says...
2:02pm Tue 17 Jul 12
ricky76 wrote:you mention two exceptional players who have generally looked after themselves other than the well documented activities of Giggs and some would say that was additional training what with all that extra horizontal jogging.
tyker2 wrote:why wasnt it the dads army that kept us in the prem the first season. Age is just a number ask Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes both can still do a job in the prem it doesnt matter how old or young you are its what you can bring to the team to improve it that matters. I would have 11 players over 30 if the can do a good job than have 11 players who can just do the basics.
what was the point in all of this for city?
He is not what we need:we should have a rule that we only sign players who will be 30 when their contract expires.
At this level players generally have not looked after themselves, do not have the skill levels to maintain maximum efficiency in their work and are past it by their 30th birthday. I do not believe that at our level a team of 30 plusers will do anything other than a mid to lower table situaton.
ricky76
says...
2:26pm Tue 17 Jul 12
tyker2 wrote:What about the likes of Windass and Thorne these players may have be winding down but still offered plenty to the game.
ricky76 wrote:you mention two exceptional players who have generally looked after themselves other than the well documented activities of Giggs and some would say that was additional training what with all that extra horizontal jogging.
tyker2 wrote:why wasnt it the dads army that kept us in the prem the first season. Age is just a number ask Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes both can still do a job in the prem it doesnt matter how old or young you are its what you can bring to the team to improve it that matters. I would have 11 players over 30 if the can do a good job than have 11 players who can just do the basics.
what was the point in all of this for city?
He is not what we need:we should have a rule that we only sign players who will be 30 when their contract expires.
At this level players generally have not looked after themselves, do not have the skill levels to maintain maximum efficiency in their work and are past it by their 30th birthday. I do not believe that at our level a team of 30 plusers will do anything other than a mid to lower table situaton.
ALEXIMO.56.
says...
4:31pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:That was one of my posts about 3 weeks ago. It came out that the two of them were arguing who we should sign and I said exactly the same as you, it's upto PP who we sign not L&R. Apparently, according to people I know all that came from Mr Baldwin. You might remember reading that post because I got a right slating for it. A few more fans heard that about them two. It might come out in the wash one day.
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:Mr Lawn's choice? Mr Rhodes choice?
Thank heavens for that. 2 or 3 months wasted waiting for him to decide. Well done City, we should have told him to do one after the 1st month. We have all said in our posts, that If he really wanted to come back, then he would have decided there and then. Now Gray, Mr Lawn's choice, is ready to sign for Leeds, let's go for Billy Paynter. Mr Rhodes choice.
I was under the impression that Parkinson is the guy who picked the team.
Freddy
says...
4:43pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Oliver's shinpad says...
8:42am Tue 17 Jul 12
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and
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Meat Pie says...
8:51am Tue 17 Jul 12
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Thank you for your constructive observations. Yes I am emphasising my points, through the use of capital letters.
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No I am not really shouting--but trying to ensure " Sean from Richmond " etc. ; Wholly understand my comments!!
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Apologies to you both, and any other commentating supporter of Bradford City. I will get the Telegraph & Argus to print a retraction!!.(LoL) :)
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Pablo
says...
5:53pm Tue 17 Jul 12
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:Directors make the key decisions in all businesses, and football is no different. It's only natural that directors will have seen certain players fom other teams that they like and will try and influence the Manager to sign them.
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:That was one of my posts about 3 weeks ago. It came out that the two of them were arguing who we should sign and I said exactly the same as you, it's upto PP who we sign not L&R. Apparently, according to people I know all that came from Mr Baldwin. You might remember reading that post because I got a right slating for it. A few more fans heard that about them two. It might come out in the wash one day.
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:Mr Lawn's choice? Mr Rhodes choice?
Thank heavens for that. 2 or 3 months wasted waiting for him to decide. Well done City, we should have told him to do one after the 1st month. We have all said in our posts, that If he really wanted to come back, then he would have decided there and then. Now Gray, Mr Lawn's choice, is ready to sign for Leeds, let's go for Billy Paynter. Mr Rhodes choice.
I was under the impression that Parkinson is the guy who picked the team.
I believe dann commented that this close season we've signed two failed targets from previous managers reigns.
Correctness
says...
7:37pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Waynus1971
says...
8:31pm Tue 17 Jul 12
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The player made it clear that he was hoping to secure a deal elsewhere to prolong his career at the highest level possible. Despite this, PP continued to chase the player. Who is getting the abuse? That's right, the player that laid his cards on the table from the off....!
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Andy Gray has close connections with Leeds. His father and uncle played for the club and Andy, himself, started his career there. Why wouldn't he jump at the chance?
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If I recall correctly, McCall had offers to go back to the Premier League when Rangers released him. He chose us because of his special bond. Why should Gray be criticised for doing the same? After all, he hasn't asked PP to wait for him has he??????
northyorksbantam says...
7:55am Tue 17 Jul 12