GARY Bowyer believes his new-look Bantams are quickly becoming a close-knit bunch.

The City boss has drawn a line under last season’s relegation with an influx of fresh faces.

There have also been changes around the training ground as he looks to revamp the club for the return to League Two.

And he has noticed the team spirit building among the nine new signings and those already established in the dressing room.

Bowyer said: “The group has gelled really well. There’s a good vibe about them.

“The aim was obviously to try and get as many deals done as early as possible to get them closer straight away. That’s impacted on the stuff that we’ve done in training.

“They are looking out for each other already, which is important. I’ve been impressed with how they’ve gone about it so far.”

Bowyer feels a weight has been lifted from the players who were involved in the misery of finishing bottom last term.

“It’s been good for the ones already here because it’s completely new,” he added.

“The changes we’ve made on the training ground are noticeable and that had a huge impact when they first came in.

“And obviously all the new arrivals have also had an effect. The camaraderie within the group already has been impressive.”

After the frantic recruitment of recent weeks, Bowyer is still looking to add a couple more signings before the season opener against Cambridge on August 3.

But he laughed off a rumour that midfielder Jimmy Ryan was trying to win a contract at the club.

He said: “You don’t get the calibre of player of Jimmy Ryan on trial. That’s not true.

“I don’t know what his situation is at this present moment.

“He was fantastic when I had him at Blackpool and before then. He’s a quality midfielder who has played the majority of his football in League One.

“It’s a case of settling things down now. People are waiting to see what happens with (clubs in) the Championship, more so than the Premier League.”

City kick off their friendly campaign at Guiseley on Saturday - the first of seven warm-up games ahead of the League Two curtain raiser 30 days from now.

Bowyer said: “The plan will be for them all to get 45 minutes.

“I remember when I was manager at Blackburn. I was reminded that the year we won the league, we never won a pre-season game.

“The aim for me is for the players to start working on their timing and looking at the patterns we’ve been doing with them.

"We’re looking to up the workload as we go on. It's all about building blocks.”