City are set for a pre-season reunion with old favourite Jamie Lawrence.

The hard-as-nails midfielder now manages Zamaretto League club Ashford Town (Middlesex), who have announced they have agreed to host a friendly against Peter Taylor’s side. The game at Short Lane has been provisionally arranged for Thursday, July 22.

Lawrence, who was recently back at Valley Parade for a charity appearance, cannot wait for the chance to face the club he still calls home.

“Everyone knows I’ve got a soft spot for Bradford and always will have,” he said. “It will also be great for our team.

“I asked a while back if we could play a friendly but then Stuart (McCall) went so I wasn’t sure. But the club have said they are more than happy for it to go ahead.”

Lawrence has no doubt that City will be preparing for an exciting season and predicts a long-overdue upturn in fortunes next term.

He added: “I think they’ve got the right manager for the job at the minute. He’s done well since coming in and I’m sure they will hit the ground running.

“I know Junior Lewis very well and he’s a good coach and it was so important that they kept Wayne Jacobs. He is a link to Bradford City and can educate them about the club.

“Bradford have got a massive chance next season. I think the money worries they’ve had are evening out and with Peter Taylor in place, they are going to be right up there.”