DEREK Adams must break the cycle of chop and change to have the best shot of bringing the good times back to City.

The new Bantams chief is close to unveiling his first signing in the hot-seat to kickstart another hectic summer of recruitment.

Billy Clarke was among nine out-of-contract players released to pave the way for the latest squad revamp.

And the Irishman believes that City now need to move away from the mentality of starting all over again that follows every campaign.

Clarke said: “You’d hope it’s a very different club next season. Something needs to change.

“The manager coming in has obviously been very successful this year as well as at Plymouth and Ross County.

“You’re hoping he will do the same here because the club need to get out of League Two. It’s such a tough league, anyone can beat anyone.

“They need to get the recruitment right and you’re hoping that this time next year they’re not in the same situation as they were with Gary Bowyer.

“He got the job and his recruitment system and the players he brought in didn’t fit the style of the next manager.

“It was a revamp again. That cycle needs to stop.

“The whole cycle of ‘if it doesn’t work, completely rip it up’ doesn’t work.”

Clarke, who had hoped to be kept on in a player/coaching role, was part of the last successful City side that reached the League One play-off final in 2017.

He was sold that summer to Charlton and has had two spells back at the club since, witnessing their decline since Wembley.

“You need a system in place where a new manager coming in is buying into the club and the structure is already there,” he added.

“So, if that manager doesn’t work out, the whole philosophy doesn’t have to change.

“You’ve got the likes of Barnsley and Brentford who have that model.

“Obviously it’s different at every club and not the blueprint of success by any means – but what won’t work is having manager after manager, transfer window after transfer window and always throwing in different types of players.

“Starting again all the time doesn’t get you far. You maybe get lucky one year and do well but if not, it’s a case of ripping it up once again.

“I think there needs to be a plan in place and Ryan (Sparks) possibly has that with Lee (Turnbull) and Derek now.

“I’m hoping Derek can get it right and have a real go.”

Adams, who is currently in Scotland on a short break, has already voiced his determination to take City up – as he did against all the odds 10 days ago with Morecambe.

Clarke said: “When you get the Bradford job in League Two, you’ve got to shoot for the very top.

“Any manager coming in has to say they’ll get out of the league. But he has got a track record of doing that, so he needs to back it up.

“It’s not going to be easy, there will be ups and downs. He needs to get the right players and I’m sure he’s doing that.

“Hopefully, it works out. He’s a good manager and it’s a massive club - the biggest in the league.

“I hope this time next year, it’s not a repeat of every summer for the last four. The cycle needs to stop and the club need to get out this division.

“It’s not going to happen if you just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect change.

“But there is stuff going on behind the scenes with Ryan and Lee and Derek has come in with a strong plan and belief in what he’s doing.

“Hopefully, the players buy into it and fans get right behind them. If that happens, then it’s going to be pretty hard to stop Bradford City.”