RYAN Sparks admits City’s “abnormal” mid-season break has been a frustration in their bid to pull away from the League Two relegation zone.

Half of the division are in action tonight including Stevenage and bottom club Southend beneath them.

It means the Bantams, who have not played since December 29, will have games in hand on all five teams currently below them.

They have played three less than Grimsby, who will drop to last place if Southend get anything against fourth-placed Cambridge – who City are scheduled to visit on Saturday.

“It’s unfortunate how things have panned out,” said chief executive Sparks.

“We’re now going to be 25 days without a game. It’s almost been like a small off-season, which isn’t welcome by the way.

“I’m sure the players will benefit in some respect from having a rest, but from a continuity perspective, 25 days is slightly abnormal when you are trying to pick up from where you left off.

“We haven’t been able to see our new players in action and we haven’t been able to further analyse the squad in other areas that potentially we’d like to strengthen going into that final 24-48 hours of the window.

“So, some of that will now have to take place over the next 10 to 12 days.”

City are unbeaten in five games under interim bosses Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars but have been unable to play against Morecambe, Scunthorpe and Crawley since the turn of the year. That inactivity has left them just three points above the drop zone.

The potential relegation "six-pointer" at Scunthorpe, which was off 10 days ago, has now been moved to Tuesday, February 9 - starting a run of five successive midweek matches.

Sparks added: “It’s going to be tough (picking up the momentum) but Mark and Conor have proved so far that they can overcome a number of difficult tests.

“Going away to Crawley Town on a Tuesday night with 2,000 home fans in wasn’t easy after I’d given them 24-hours notice but they came through it unfazed.

“They would have liked to have played on Saturday, which was obviously frustrating for everybody, but it wasn’t to be.

“They’ll pick themselves up and crack on with it. That’s the way they are and probably why they’ve had this success in the short term.”

City have signed five players in the transfer window since their last outing – the goalless draw with Port Vale at Valley Parade. The absence of games has at least allowed the new recruits time to bed in.

Sparks said: “When we’ve signed certain players on a Friday, they’d usually be going into the squad or on the bench with very little understanding of how we might want to play or whatever.

“But look at Matty Foulds for example. He’s been on trial with us for over two weeks and has now signed a permanent contract.

“Matty’s been here for the bulk of January so it is not new to him.

“Will Huffer is yet to feature for us, even on the bench, but he has been here for most of the month. Jordan Stevens is another early signing who has been with us for a bit.

“The positives are that these players have been in and amongst it with us for the best part of a fortnight or three weeks.”