AMBITIOUS Ben Richards-Everton wants to breed a winning mentality at Valley Parade.

Gary Bowyer’s first summer signing has enjoyed promotion success at his two previous clubs – and he hopes that can rub off again after his switch to the Bantams.

Richards-Everton knows from his own experience the momentum that a positive dressing room can create.

READ MORE: Richards-Everton is first arrival

“If you are used to winning games, you feel invincible,” he said. “The team go into games with that winning mentality and almost know they are not going to lose.

“If you go into a game thinking you are going to get beaten, then you will get beaten.

“If you’ve got a team of winners, you will eventually win. You have to be mentally strong in football and instilling that in the players is so important.”

The centre half won League Two with Accrington in 2018 after lifting the Scottish League One trophy at Dunfermline two years earlier.

“Winning the league in my first season at Accrington was a moment that I’ll never forget and that’s probably what has brought me to Bradford today.

“Dunfermline was probably not the level of League Two but it’s still another medal.

“Some people go their whole career without winning a league or a medal so to win two in the space of three seasons was amazing.

“I’ve always been in changing rooms where the vibe has been good and the lads bounce off each other. You get that winning mentality.”

Accrington tried to keep Richards-Everton and offered him a new deal but the 27-year-old wanted to look elsewhere after a season when he struggled to nail down a regular spot.

He added: “I felt I wanted to move on. I was quite unsettled in the season just gone when we came up to League One because I was in and out.

“I started the first five games at left back where I was happy to fill in but it’s not my natural position.

“Then it was stop-start through the whole season. It was hard to get any kind of consistency.

“You get taken out the team and you obviously lose match fitness because you’re not playing for two to three weeks. Then you get thrown back in.

“But it was a successful season to stay in League One given the budget of Accrington and the expectation and the odds.

“I’m happy that they’ve stayed in League One but I do feel as a player that it was right to move on. Everything seemed right about the opportunity to come to Bradford and I took it with both hands.”

As the first recruit of what is expected to be a busy summer for City, Richards-Everton is confident that Bowyer can build a squad strong enough to be challenging.

“I think the gaffer is going to bring in the right players,” he said. “He definitely knows what he wants and I’ve every faith in him and for next season.

“Everyone’s got to focus on promotion and doing whatever it takes to get that.”