SIMON Grayson admits City's long lay-off has left him feeling like he's still unemployed.

Successive home postponements mean he will have been in the job for 31 days by the Wigan game on Wednesday.

His new club have played just twice in that time – and he is yet to take charge at Valley Parade.

Grayson said: "To have only two games at this stage has been quite strange. It's as if I'd still been out of work.

"But now we're going into a period where we're going to be playing a lot of matches.

"I'm looking forward to it from a personal point of view – but the only way you really enjoy matches is by winning them."

With the MK Dons game set to be rearranged for another midweek date, City face a packed schedule to get through the last 12 games. Yet the Bantams boss is looking for them to build up a head of steam.

"Whatever work we've done with the players, they are now aware we aren't going to be on the training ground much," said Grayson.

"It's going to be playing, recovery or light sessions and then play again. We're playing on a Monday, a Thursday twice, a Saturday, Wednesday – it's going to be a tough schedule.

"But I'm sure it's one that the players will really thrive on if we start winning matches.

"When you're doing that, you just want to play the next one and hopefully keep the run going. Go express yourself and take the shackles off.

"There's far worse things players could be doing than kicking a ball at Valley Parade. That's what we'll enforce on the players."

Grayson has also stressed that City's 12-game 'season' will determine what happens next with the current squad.

"Every player is playing for their future at this football club," he said.

"Whether you're out of contract or not, that's what happens in football. If you're not successful, players leave clubs.

"The demands are there for everybody to achieve, whether you are young, medium or old in age."