Jake Speight is mystified by the bitter parting shot he received from Mansfield after completing his £25,000 switch to City.

Stags chairman Andrew Perry claimed the club had to let him go – or the striker would refuse to play for them again.

Stunned Speight was keen to put the record straight and dismiss any suggestion that he was a troublemaker.

“I’m a professional footballer and it’s ridiculous to say that I wouldn’t play for a club if I was under contract,” he said.

“I was there for the first day of pre-season last Saturday and working hard just like everyone else.

“I don’t know why the chairman came out and said those things. It’s disappointing.

“The Mansfield gaffer (David Holdsworth) was fine about me going and wished me all the best. I shook hands with everyone and thought I’d left on a positive note.

“I enjoyed my time there and obviously if things hadn’t worked out as they did for me with Mansfield, then I wouldn’t have ended up signing for Bradford.

“I’m delighted with the move but I didn’t want to come away from there with any bad feelings.

“But I’m not looking back. I’ve come to a new club now and Mansfield are behind me.”

Speight, who notched 17 goals in the Conference last term, has enjoyed his first couple of days’ training at Apperley Bridge and cannot wait to get to work under Peter Taylor.

He said: “Any footballer would want to work with him. As soon as my agent said that Peter Taylor was interested, there was no other place I wanted to come.

“I don’t think it’s a huge jump in regards of the two leagues. It’s the size of the club that is so different to any of the others I’ve been at.

“I’ve never played here before and when Jakes (Wayne Jacobs) showed me round the ground , I couldn’t believe how big it is.”

City have confirmed they will be playing reserve games next season at Eccleshill to protect the Valley Parade pitch.