GARY Bowyer hinted rock-bottom City will need overhauling as he did with Blackpool – but vowed to keep them fighting to the bitter end.

Saturday’s dismal 4-1 loss to his former club cemented the Bantams to the foot of League One.

They failed to cash in on defeats for six of the seven teams currently above them and were booed off by fed-up home fans.

It was particularly tough for Bowyer to swallow against the team he managed for the past two seasons.

He admitted the situation now facing him at Valley Parade mirrors the one he had inherited at Blackpool in 2016, when he took over after they were relegated to the basement division.

Bowyer said: “I totally understand the fans’ frustration.

“What they’ve been through, is it just this year or has it been from last season that’s carried on? I totally understand it.

“There is a little bit of a similarity between the two clubs. When I went in there two years ago, it needed rebuilding and starting again.

“You saw the physicality, the pace, the power and size that they had.

“When you’re in this division, they are key aspects.

“In any league, you look at some of the physicality. Even the top teams like Liverpool and Manchester City, there’s not many of them that can’t run – you’ve got to be able to do that.”

Bowyer would not be drawn on last summer’s recruitment campaign under former chairman Edin Rahic.

But he insists the current squad will not be allowed to throw in the towel.

“I can’t comment on (what went on before) because I wasn’t there,” he added.

“It’s obviously something we can’t go into now or do anything about because the window’s closed.

“What we have to do is work with the ones we’ve got. I knew it was a challenge coming in and that challenge has become even harder.

“But I’m not giving up. I’m not having anybody giving up.

“That’s what I laid down to them. If they think they’re just going to come up and see the remaining games out, they won’t be around me.”

The third loss on the bounce leaves the Bantams still six points off safety, with only seven games to save themselves.

Bowyer was unhappy at how heads dropped after Eoin Doyle’s second-half penalty was saved.

He said: “This was my fourth game and the first three I didn’t see that.

“I saw aspects of it after a certain point of the game. But they are fully aware now that it’s not acceptable when you’re playing for Bradford City - and when I’m managing Bradford City.

“Sometimes when you find yourself in the situation we are in, those things go against you. From what people around the club tell me, we’ve had quite a few of those moments this season.

“It seemed to suck the life out of them. But I don’t care – you have to fight and keep going to the end.”

Bowyer knows City will have to work hard to win back any faith from supporters as the prospect of dropping back to the bottom tier looms large.

“I agree 100 per cent. The only way you do that is by showing fight and passion for the shirt and then winning games.

“If you’re showing the fight and commitment, sometimes supporters acknowledge that and if the result doesn’t go for you, they are okay with it.

“But I’m not happy with what’s gone off.”

City are waiting to find out more about the extent of Jermaine Anderson’s calf injury which forced him off.