STEVE Evans would get City promoted from League Two “with his eyes shut”.

That’s according to Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony, who believes the volatile Gillingham manager would be a great fit to fill the Valley Parade vacancy.

City appear to have identified their target to replace Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars who were sacked from their joint role last week.

No announcement is expected imminently but the fact the club are very quiet and relaxed about it, suggests they have a clear plan in place.

Gills boss Evans, a hugely-controversial figure with fans after his past history with the Bantams, is understood to have been keen on the job in the past.

City’s apparent lack of urgency in naming a new boss implies the man they want is currently in employment.

There is no suggestion at all that Evans is even in the frame. Morecambe’s Derek Adams is one name that has been strongly rumoured, although the bookies are not offering any odds over the next appointment.

But Peterborough chief MacAnthony reckons his former Posh manager would be just what City need to get going again.

Speaking on his podcast, The Hard Truth - Inside the Football Industry, he said: “How desperate are you for success? Sometimes you have to sacrifice other things just to get out of where you are.

“If I said, ‘look I’ve got someone for you but you’re not going to like it. It’s going to get messy but he’ll win you back-to-back promotions’, what would you say?

“If he came available in the summer, hire Steve Evans. He would win back-to-back promotions with his eyes shut at Bradford.

“Football has got short memories when there’s success on the line.

“If Salford went and got him, they’d be in the Championship in three years max. If Bradford got him, with the size of the club and the way him and his assistant manage, it would be fierce to go to Valley Parade.

“No team would want to visit. I’d almost put my left testicle that you would win promotion easy first year and in League One, you’d be top six.

“He’s taken Gillingham nearly to the play-offs. I know what his budget was and what he’s had to do there.

“I still talk to Steve all the time. Yeah, it didn’t work for me and I got rid of him.

“But what price would you pay as a fan if someone walked in and said, ‘he might not be your cup of tea but you’re going to be in the Championship in 30 months?’

“After all the years and rubbish you’ve put up with, could you learn to love this guy?

“Rotherham did that and he never got relegated there in the Championship. He left them in a really good place.

“Pretty much anywhere he’s gone, he’s always done well. I have to give him and Paul Rayner credit.

“If you ignore all the hysterics, they are actually really good coaches and a management team.”

Adams has been mentioned in the Scottish press having taken Morecambe into the play-offs for only the second time in their history. They face Tranmere in the first leg on Thursday.

MacAnthony added: “Is Derek Adams the guy to rekindle the passion? I saw him linked with the job.

“The job he has done at Morecambe is miraculous. There are a lot of good managers who have done incredible things in the Football League, (Mark) Bonner at Cambridge United and the Cheltenham guy (Michael Duff).

“But what Adams has done for Morecambe, with all due respect, is outstanding.

“I’m not sure how much longer the Bradford fans want to hang around League Two. This is a massive summer coming up.

“Everyone loves champagne, Pep Guardiola football but you’re going to have to mix it up. You’re in the basement and need to go going.

“The football club needs momentum and that means promotion.”