JAMES MASON says City are now playing a "waiting game" with respect to the players who have been offered new deals.

The Bantams are hoping Mark Marshall, James Meredith, Rory McArdle, Matthew Kilgallon, Rouven Sattelmaier and Tony McMahon will put to pen paper on fresh contracts.

But chief operating officer Mason said the club have to be patient before decisions are made.

He said: "It's a waiting game. The out-of-contract players who we’d like to keep have been offered contracts. They are now with the players, their agents and families to discuss.

"Naturally at this time of year, players go off on holiday with their family and friends, so we don’t expect to hear anything back immediately.

"Let’s hope in the next few weeks we’ll get some positive responses."

While Bantams hope to retain their players, they are also on the lookout for new ones.

Despite the extra weeks to the season, due to their play-off involvement, Mason insists City are not behind the eight-ball regarding potential targets due to the recruitment structure headed up by Greg Abbott.

Mason said: "The way we operate behind the scenes, we are continuously looking at players.

"Only the other week we signed three young talents and that was when we were coming to the end of the season.

"The talent scouting and recruitment of players now for us outside of the transfer window is an ongoing process, so the targets that we are looking at are ones we’ve looked at not just in the last week because the season has ended.

"These are ongoing targets that we have targeted for a period of time.

"Thankfully, that’s the benefit of how we are working now. It’s not a knee jerk reaction to the situation we are in or how the season has ended.

"It’s simply a basis that has solid foundations that covers not just the four leagues of this country but Europe as well. We are always looking for talent."