Bradford City manager Paul Jewell is hoping his new record signing Isaiah Rankin will have a similar impact to England striker Andy Cole.

His £1.3m fee smashes the existing club record £1 million fee which brought Lee Mills to Valley Parade just seven days ago.

Like Rankin, Manchester United hitman Cole also left Highbury after failing to make an impact before going on to become one of the best strikers in the game.

The City boss said: "Some people may raise their eyebrows at the fee but they are probably the same people who had a similar reaction to Cole joining Bristol.

"Isaiah is in the same mould and has lightning pace which will give us something different. We have some good quality strikers here but their main asset is not pace. He will give us just that."

Jewell, however, would not reveal his side and said: "I think he is a bit gobsmacked at the moment to have become a £1 million player. It has all happened very quickly for him. From trying to break in at Arsenal he has, all of a sudden, become a big money signing. But I believe it will be a great career move for him.

"I watched him three times towards the end of last season while Chris Hutchings (City assistant boss) also saw him three times."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.