CITY manager Stuart McCall insisted fans should not be worried by the lack of new signings to date.

The Bantams have made just one new acquisition so far in former Charlton left back Adam Chicksen.

And on the back of the departure of several senior players in recent weeks – though Matt Kilgallon signed a new one-year deal yesterday – some supporters are becoming anxious for new recruits as pre-season looms.

But McCall said there was no reason for panic and confirmed a lot of work is being done behind the scenes which should bear fruit in the coming weeks.

He said: “New signings don’t necessarily need to be in right now.

“As long as we are not losing out on targets – that’s the key. As long as they are in the building in the first month of the season that’s the important thing.

“We’ve got a list of targets and if it means we have to wait a little while then fine.

“It is always the same for supporters. They want to get excited about a fresh face, a new signing, and obviously with the players that we’ve lost we do need to bring in some players.

“We are well aware of that and everyone is working behind the scenes to bring in some players who will hopefully bring us success next season.”

Rory McArdle’s exit to Scunthorpe was confirmed this week following the departure of Mark Marshall and Billy Clarke to Charlton and James Meredith to Millwall.

With Stephen Darby having been released, and Tony McMahon and Rouven Sattelmaier yet to put pen to paper on new deals offered, McCall faces a rebuilding job on his squad.

But he says City are not the only ones having to deal with wholesale changes.

He said: “Like last season, there will be quite a large turnover but I don’t think that is new to a lot of clubs nowadays.

“Clubs are only giving players one or two-year contracts at our level and I get that.

“We’ve lost a couple of our players because of finance but I must clarify that I have been happy with the amounts we have been offering – if other clubs go above that then we have to accept that other clubs have bigger budgets than us.”

The Bantams were boosted yesterday by news that centre half Kilgallon, who can also play left back, is staying with the club.

The 33 year-old joined last year from Blackburn but his campaign was interrupted by a lengthy spell on the sidelines, managing just 12 appearances following a shoulder injury.

He said: "I’m really happy to sign a new contract here and I’m glad that it has all been sorted now.

"It plays on your mind a bit when you’re away and you start to wonder what is happening, but the chairman said he really wants me to stay and I’m glad I’ve been able to do that.

"Last season was disappointing for me personally. I didn’t have a pre-season because I came in late and the lads in the team were doing really well.

"I was really happy for them but I couldn’t get in the team because of the way they were playing. I eventually got into the team at centre half and then got injured, but when I came back I think they saw enough to know that I can be a big help to this club.”