NEW keeper Colin Doyle today laughed off the "Poundland" gags as he began the serious business with City.

Doyle's move to Valley Parade from Blackpool was trending across social media over the weekend because of the £1 cost of triggering an exit clause from his contract.

But the experienced Irishman, who has sealed a two-year deal, was happy to play along with the joke about his "transfer fee".

Doyle said: "I've seen all the reaction on Twitter and been laughing about it. Basically we just had a clause in there if we got relegated that I could go on a free.

"But the Football League don't allow you to walk away because I was still under contract. So there has to be some sort of minimal figure and that's why a pound was chucked in there.

"I've read some of the stuff put out there like the 'Poundland' comments and things like that and it's been quite funny."

The 31-year-old former Birmingham stopper is the third of the influx of players Stuart McCall aims to bring in before the new campaign kicks off.

He was alerted to City's interest last week while Blackpool were on a training camp at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Ironically, his new club will be heading back there after the Gateshead friendly on Saturday.

"I obviously had the relegation clause at Blackpool and wanted to try to play as high as I could," said Doyle.

"My agent phoned me last week saying Bradford might be interested and I took it from there. Then we got it done quite quickly.

"It's good it's been sorted early and we're off to Scotland at the weekend so I can get to know the lads even better.

"There's a lot of experience here and some good lads. It's something I'm relishing. I know the names and hopefully over the next few weeks I'll get to know them personally.

"Obviously the manager has got to bring a few more bodies in because I think we've only got 13 or 14 at the moment.

"League One's not easy anyway – but the gaffer knows the club well, so hopefully we'll get a few more players in and push on."

Doyle kept 11 clean sheets in 35 games last season even though Blackpool suffered a second straight relegation to drop into League Two.

The former Tangerines captain looks back fondly on his time at Bloomfield Road, despite the difficulties on and off the pitch.

Doyle said: "Last season was tough but I enjoyed my time at Blackpool. I played week in, week out, apart from a couple of injuries.

"It's just a shame we got relegated. To be honest, I never felt that was going to happen – but football can be strange.

"I thought I did quite well in the games I played, which was pleasing personally, but obviously getting relegated put a downer on that.

"The Blackpool fans have got their thing against the owner but your job is to go out on that pitch and stop the ball going in the net.

"That's what I concentrate on. You can't control what's going on outside that. I think most of the lads got on with their own thing."