MARTIN Drury remains a valued member of City’s backroom staff after all the changes.

Drury is the only survivor from the three-man coaching team led by Michael Collins appointed by Edin Rahic in the summer.

David Hopkin brought in Anton McElhone as his new number two this week – but insists the 32-year-old’s role is unaffected by the Scotsman’s arrival.

Hopkin has been impressed with the input from the former Bradford (Park Avenue) boss, particularly with the club’s youngsters, and expects that to continue.

The Bantams manager said: “Nothing will change with Martin. It just adds another person and Anton can do three or four different roles.

“Martin will still be coaching. He’s a very good young and enthusiastic coach, he wants to learn and progress and that’s what I like to see in people.

“He’s got a lot of links with the under-18s. He works extremely hard between them and the under-23s at the club.

“He wants to do well. He’s been positive since I’ve been here and he’s been 100 per cent behind me.

“You look at the staff when you come in and see what people can bring to the table.

“He’s been fantastic so far and he’s also got a great knowledge of the younger players about England.”

Greg Abbott and goalkeeping coach Steve Banks both left City last month as Hopkin looks to stamp his own mark on the club.

He had been targeting long-term friend McElhone for a while but had to wait until his new assistant’s contract was finished at New England Revolution in the MLS.

Hopkin has already noticed the difference in training in the few days that McElhone has been involved.

“The standards have been raised that wee bit again because obviously he’s worked at the top level and the players have seen that,” he added.

“You’ve got Martin coaching and now they’ve got someone else who specialises in a very particular position and is highly skilled to do it.

“Sports science, health, fitness, injury prevention – everything we do is to make sure the players are in peak condition.

“It can only bode well for them to work with someone of his experience and knowledge.

If he’s worked with the top players at Spurs, I don’t think many here can moan about how he does things.

“It may be a wee bit of a culture shock about how tough it’s going to be over the next four or five weeks for them.”

McElhone’s versatility is a key asset with Hopkin who will also want a prospective replacement for Banks to have more than one string to their bow.

“It’s important that we try and get as many people who can do maybe one or two jobs.

“That’s the way I’ve always worked and the goalkeeping role will be the same.

“I don’t just need a goalkeeping coach but maybe someone who can also fill in doing something different.

“We need to get a backroom staff that’s not just specific to one position.”

Hopkin is happy to take his time with finding the right man to work with the keepers. Richard O’Donnell is currently doing the job himself at training.

He said: “I’m not in a particular rush to do it because I want to get it right for Bradford.

“I always think long term. Every club I’ve worked at, I’ve left a staff behind me that are all still doing well.

“That’s the biggest thing. You leave a club in a better position than when you came in.

“That’s what we’re working towards here and will do behind the scenes to implement everything at the training ground.”