CITY’S reigning player of the year is gutted to see them looking up at the rest of League One.

The list of mistakes made over the past nine months is likely to be a long one come the final inquest into a season as grim as many can remember.

The odds of a return to the basement division after a six-year escape have shortened considerably following that contentious loss at Oxford.

Should the worst happen, many actions from last summer onwards will come under the Valley Parade microscope as evidence leading to City’s decline.

The departure of Matt Kilgallon for Hamilton seems a lifetime ago. But seeing the defender who had been crowned the best of last season suddenly frozen out of the plans set the alarm bells ringing.

The 35-year-old has reinvented himself in Scotland and is enjoying this latest chapter of a long career.

But out of sight does not mean out of mind for Kilgallon as he watches the Bantams suffer.

“It’s a real shame what’s gone on,” he said. “I look out for the results every week and it’s been a bad time for the club.

“Bradford City is still going to attract players because of the name and the fanbase.

“But I can’t believe what they are going through and it’s tough to see.

“They’ve got the players. I’ve trained with them and know what they are capable of.

“I know the lads are good enough to turn it round still.

“But it’s time to start doing it now. Having (Sean) Scannell back will be a massive lift because he’s a very good player.

“Staying up would be happy days, although it’s going to be difficult.

“You wouldn’t say it had ended up being a good season but you’ll have a bit of a buzz. It might set you up with some momentum for next year with a new gaffer in control.”

Kilgallon knows Gary Bowyer very well after playing under him at Blackburn. However tough the terrain may appear for City right now, he believes they have a good character to lead them.

The centre half added: “He’s done well under hard circumstances before and seemed to keep his cool at Blackpool with everything that was going on.

“He’s calm but he can lose it. I’ve been in the dressing room when we haven’t performed and he’s really had a go – but that’s what you expect from your manager.

“He’s probably been itching to get back into footy after being out for a little bit. He will have jumped at the chance of the Bradford job and he deserves it.

“I thought he would have had something before this.

“He’s a great man manager. He looks after the lads and the staff and that’s what you need at the minute when you’re down there.

“If you give him everything all week training and work hard for 90 minutes, he’ll give you rewards. We used to get a couple of days off here and there or something like a fun training session.

“He knows how to play it. But if you’re not doing well, you’ll be in every day.”

With a six-point gap to safety now, his old club are up against it. But Kilgallon is backing Bowyer to do all he can to rejuvenate the squad.

“Bradford have probably got to win at least half of their games,” he admitted. “That’s not easy but having people with free ideas and seeing a different face around the place will help.

“It’s a new start for everyone and I just hope they can turn it round.”

Kilgallon admits his own game has been given a lift by the move north of the border.

He made his 23rd Hamilton appearance in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Hearts – a run of games that has included playing in front of 49,000 at Ibrox and 58,000 at Parkhead.

Kilgallon said: “There were another couple of big stadiums to chalk off. The atmosphere was absolutely mental.

“All you hear up here is Celtic or Rangers but it’s great to play in. It’s a different challenge and that’s kept me hungry to keep going.

“I get my time to go over and see the kids but then I’m up here to work and keep Hamilton in the league.

“I still feel good. I don’t do as many training sessions as I used to but I’ve played over 20 games already and I missed the first five.

“Recovery takes a little bit longer but I’m still playing every Saturday at 35. I’ll keep going until I know myself that I can’t do it anymore.”