CITY have no regrets over Danny Rowe’s short-sharp stay at Valley Parade as they prepare to face their former striker at Chesterfield tonight.

Rowe only joined the Bantams from Oldham in January but was gone 92 days later to the Spireites, having scored five goals in 18 appearances.

His sudden exit caused a shock at the time, although he was known to be growing frustrated after starting only one of the previous eight games.

As Rowe lines up against City in their penultimate pre-season friendly, chief executive Ryan Sparks insists there are no hard feelings with the 32-year-old.

He said: “We signed Danny to aid our relegation fight and he supplied five very important goals.

“The one that really sticks in my mind was the late equaliser against Bolton that, if I’m honest, kept alive faint hopes of a promotion battle.

“It probably was a mark of how far we were off but it kept it alive.

“We’ve no regrets on bringing Danny to the club.

“We got on really well and there’s no bad feeling at all and we wish him the very best in his time at Chesterfield.”

Rowe made the move at the end of the National League transfer window in a deal that will see City get their money back. There is also thought to be an add-on clause should he win promotion with Chesterfield.

Sparks added: “I spoke to their chairman and manager that day when he made the move and the feeling I got from them is that they are very ambitious. I’ve got a lot of time for that.

“They are trying to get out the National League. Ironically, our ambition last season became to avoid the National League and I can assure you we had to do quite a lot to achieve that.

“Danny had a positive impact with that. He came in and scored goals, excited the supporters in and around the January window and we got what we needed to get from that situation.

“But when you have a player of Danny’s potential value, there is interest in him and he’s not featuring and he’s potentially unhappy about that, it’s about making the right call for the football club going forward.

“Danny had potentially one year plus one more to run with us. With that in mind, the decision wasn’t just made for April it was for this coming season as well.”

Rowe left City with four games left of last season after being an unused substitute in defeats to Harrogate and Tranmere.

“He obviously wanted to play,” said Sparks. “He’s 32 and at that part of his career when he doesn’t want to be sat on the bench.

“I think he was given some assurance at the time that he would potentially feature.

“But he made a call to me and said if we would accept Chesterfield’s offer, he would like to make the move.

“When a player says that to you, it’s ultimately the end.

“It was about making the right decision for Bradford City as a football club rather than perhaps what others might want it to be. It becomes a financial issue then.

“The club have lost too many of those jewels, if you like, and I don’t intend to make it a habit. If there’s a deal to be done that best suits Bradford City - and all parties - then I’ve got an obligation to do it.”