Stuart McCall had a direct and pertinent message for the Bradford City players when he met them for the first time in his new role as caretaker manager yesterday.

It was simply this: "We've all been under performing and we must do better."

The 36-year-old midfield player delivered his message as he settled into his demanding new role following the sackings of manager Chris Hutchings and coach Malcolm Shotton.

As he settled into the manager's office after his first training session, McCall revealed: "I know from working with them behind the scenes that Chris and Malcolm worked tirelessly to make sure everything was right.

"The bottom line, though, is about results and one win out of 12 Premiership matches is not good enough.

"When I met the squad before training yesterday I told them that we as players have got to take responsibility.

"Yes, we had a tough start. Yes, we have had injuries to key players. But I told them that with the possible exception of Matt Clarke not one of us has reached a consistent level of performance that we did last season.

"Everyone should be giving 100 per cent, but we all need to show a little bit more form and confidence and once you do that you perform better. We all need to raise our level of performance.

"I told the players I didn't know whether I would be manager for one week, one month and one year. But it isn't about me it is all about the desire to survive this season.

"We all have our opinions about who should be manager, assistant or coach, but ultimately we all want the same thing and that is Premiership football for Bradford City next season."

Few people care more passionately about City than McCall who joined the club as a 16-year-old apprentice in June 1980 and returned to Valley Parade two and a half years ago after ten years away playing at the top level with Everton and Rangers.

It is his number one priority to see City survive in the Premiership.

Now, he will try to convey that personal passion and commitment to players, some of whose links with the club are measured in months rather than years.

"I always said I would dearly love to manage this club at some stage," he said. "I also said I would love to see this club at the top.

"When I came back in 1998 at the age of 34 we were in the First Division and I could never see us getting to the top while I was playing.

"A massive part of me has been fulfiled in helping to get the club into the top level and to see us survive last season was a great achievement. If we are still in the Premiership next season it would be even more satisfying."

A natural leader by example, his immediate task as caretaker manager will be to inspire the team to levels of consistency that have so far eluded them.

But if he earns a longer term contract then he faces a genuine problem as to whether he can continue to play as well as manage, knowing that no one has ever done that in the Premiership except in short bursts.

He said: "I always said I wanted to play as long as I can and I would like to do that as long as I can still give something to the team. I have spoken to Gordon Strachan and Ray Wilkins and they said the same. Much as they enjoyed coaching and management nothing could match playing.

"I have still got the enthusiasm I had as an 18-year-old, but I enjoy the coaching side of it too. If I continue playing I would like an experienced person alongside me as No 2. There have been names mentioned, but the main priority regardless of what happens is to climb that table whoever is in charge.

"To be successful this season after the start we have had is to make sure we are in the Premiership at the end of the campaign.

"To do that we must start by putting points on the board starting against Everton on Saturday. It is as simple as that."