THE City fan's well-worn scarf at Wembley acted as a reminder that Peter Jackson is comfortable being part of the club again.

Six years on from his abrupt managerial exit, Jackson once more feels welcome at Valley Parade.

He had deliberately steered clear following his resignation just four games into the 2011-12 season.

Eighth in the club's all-time appearance list, the skipper on that fateful day in 1985 would not come back while the previous owners were in charge.

Jackson was reluctant even to pick up the phone to the T&A – this is his first interview since walking away.

But the wounds have healed since the arrival of Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp. Jackson is a familiar face in the crowd once more.

He reflected: "I never went back until Mark Lawn and the old regime left. I told my family it just didn't feel right.

"But I've really enjoyed going again and meeting Edin and (chief operating officer) James (Mason) – what lovely people they are.

"I know the club had success on the pitch before but at times behind-the-scenes things weren't right.

"Now these new people have come in with fresh ideas and there is a new energy, which it probably needed. It feels more professional.

"I think the club now are on a really good footing. There is a positive atmosphere around the place.

"That's why I dedicated the two Bradford City shirts I wore when we won the championship at Bolton and the day of the fire to the club.

"I felt it was the right time to give them back to where they belong."

Jackson can say the same about himself.

Before last season, he had watched only two live City games during the 2013 Capital One Cup run – at Villa Park and then the final, when he paid to go with his dad and two brothers among the fans.

He was back at Wembley again three weeks ago for the Millwall play-off, when a supporter stopped him and showed off his sentimental scarf.

Jackson smiled: "This guy told me he'd got it in 1972 and it had seen every league game I played. I admit it was quite emotional. What a sweet thing to say.

"I've got many good friends still in and around the club. I've met some amazing people, even though I was only there for six months, and recreated some friendships I had before as well.

"Maybe there were one or two things brought up when I was manager of Huddersfield – but I know the genuine fans will have respect for me."

Jackson still has that sense of pride from managing his home-town club, for however briefly. But the experiment of bringing in the late Archie Christie as director of football created, in his words, a "chaotic" situation.

"There were too many voices. Christie coming in threw me in a lot of ways.

"I never knew where I stood. I wasn't doing myself justice and I felt sick with what was going on. The decision to go wasn't taken off the cuff.

"Mark started going off in the board meeting about one or two things and I said 'if everyone feels like that, I'll offer to resign'.

"It took them by surprise but I came back in 15 minutes later and they'd accepted it. I knew personally it was the right thing to do for me. But I look back now and I did enjoy getting back in (to management).

"When you think I went to Lilycroft School, a mile away. I was so proud. There was Brian Noble and I and he went on to coach the Bulls and I managed Bradford City."

A League One club contacted him soon after and hinted there might be another opening if they lost the next game. They didn't. That was the only managerial opportunity Jackson has had since – but there are no regrets.

He went into the care industry for five years with wife Allison and now spends most of his time "travelling the world". They also own four properties, three around the Brighouse area and one in Cornwall.

Jackson said: "I like being connected to my old clubs. I'm in the hall of fame at Newcastle, Huddersfield and Chester and in the legends lounge at Bradford. That's not bad.

"But we do a lot of travelling and I love being a grandad and around the family. That's the most important thing.

"It doesn't matter if you've got £10million in the bank or just a tenner, if you've got health and your family, you have everything.

"I realise that more than anybody with the cancer scare I had and then doing home care for nearly five years.

"I can't wait to take my grandchildren down to Bradford and show them my shirts. Hopefully they will be there forever.

"I've no real regrets from that 16-year-old who turned up at Bradford City in 1977. I played in three decades in football and couldn't have given any more.

"I made the most of what I had, as a player and a manager, and I've made a good living from it, in terms of where I've been and who I've met. There are some great stories.

"I've just gone 56 and I've had an amazing life for a lad from Buttershaw."