JAMES Mason admits letting go of "legend" Stephen Darby was no easy decision.

The right back has been at the heart of City's rise from bottom-division strugglers to regular League One promotion contenders over the last five seasons.

He also played a full part in the Bantams' magical cup runs but a lack of regular game-time, after losing his spot to Tony McMahon last season, means Darby is heading elsewhere after not being offered a new deal.

Mason labelled the 29-year-old defender "a wonderful individual on and off the pitch – a real ambassador of the club".

The chief operating officer admitted: "This decision hasn't been made lightly at all. Stephen was a really valuable member of this squad for the past five years, including this season, but understandably at his age he wants to be playing football week in, week out and deserves that.

"But for the excellent season Tony McMahon has had, he would be and he leaves with our best wishes to pursue that desire to play first-team football. I am 100 per cent sure he will get it. We only wish him well for the future.

"I don't think I can speak highly enough of him as someone who gave his all on the pitch and to every member of the Bradford City community off it.

"He is a real gentleman and hopefully he will be remembered in the future as a legend for all he gave the club.

"It has been a pleasure as a Bradford City supporter to watch Stephen flourish as a young lad in a squad that had struggled in previous years at the bottom of League Two to then go on and have a career, not only as a right back and excellent defender but to go on and captain the team."

Darby was one of the first names on the team sheet for virtually all the four seasons he played under Phil Parkinson, who signed him from Liverpool in 2012.

Yet although he still made 25 starts last campaign, Stuart McCall's more expansive style saw McMahon overtake him in the pecking order.

Mason was full of praise for the way the former skipper knuckled down to still play an important part in helping City reach the play-offs.

He said: "To some extent it has probably been a frustrating year for Stephen – but it's been wonderful to see his attitude, application and out-and-out commitment to the squad, whether that has been a characteristic goal-line clearance, a full-blooded 50-50 challenge or if he has just been walking round the pitch afterwards as an unused substitute clapping the fans and clapping all the players for the part they played.

"As far as I'm concerned, and I hope I speak on behalf of most Bradford City fans, this is one player who will always be welcome back at Valley Parade as a player or in the future, wherever his career takes him."

Darby's exit means the loss of another 'history-maker', leaving Rory McArdle and James Meredith as the sole survivors from the team that reached Wembley twice in 2013.

Mason said: "Who'd have thought when he started at Valley Parade he'd be part of the history boys team that reached the Capital One League Cup final and achieved promotion under Phil Parkinson with that wonderful team that beat Northampton.

"He also captained the team during that unbelievable, unforgettable FA Cup run which saw us record arguably the greatest cup upset of all time at Stamford Bridge in beating Chelsea and have some wonderful games at home against Sunderland and Reading."