Following recent rumours surrounding the fates of the EFL, it look plausible that the EFL are opting to leave all football absent, at least without crowds, until as late as possibly January.
This has been met with mixed responses of uproar and understanding on social media, after it was accidentally leaked by the Bristol Rovers social media team.
However, this is causing the less financially stable teams to make the brave decision to release their retained list, with Cambridge United being the first club to do so. However, as of today Bradford City have decided to release attacker Dylan Mottley-Henry after a short stint at the club to maintain financial stability, but with EFL clubs having just over two weeks to produce their retained list, who deserves to stay for another season at Valley Parade?
Hope Akpan- Keep
Upon joining the club in their turmoil relegation season, Akpan has failed to live up to expectations since arriving in West Yorkshire. Having Championship experience and joining a relatively poor City side, he was expected to emerge as a leader in the midfield but has appeared to shy away from his responsibilities and as a resulted acted as more of a liability than a leader. The decision behind Akpan's future will solely rest on Stuart McCall, who may believe he can transform Akpan into another Timothee Dieng as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder, and for that reason alone I hope that Akpan will stay for one extra year, as he has shown glimpses of quality at times and if anyone is going to unlock Akpan's potential for next season's League Two promotion push, it will be Stuart McCall.
Richard O'Donnell- Keep
One of the few players who has rectified his situation since last season's downfall, O'Donnell has shown City fans what he is capable of in recent months. Whilst like Akpan he wasn't great in last season's demise, he has proven himself and come out of a underwhelming Bantams season with his head held high as an influential leader at the back. Whilst I believe he has shown he is good enough to start in League Two, even if he was to be released or sold in the near future he would make an outstanding back-up goalkeeper, and perhaps being the reason for Sam Hornby's untimely departure from Valley Parade.
Clayton Donaldson- Release
Whilst the Don has had a promising season in Bradford, he has been struggling to cope with recent injuries and as a result has missed game time in recent months. As a 36 year old forward, it will be hard for him to impress at this level for much longer and time appears to be against him with the coronavirus potentially stalling the season. However, with McCall already having James Vaughan, Lee Novak and Kurtis Guthrie at his disposal it is likely he will release Donaldson to find himself a more suitable club whilst maybe bringing in a new talisman alongside Vaughan up front.
Chris Taylor- Release
The former trialist might have impressed enough to get a contract, despite the fact it was months after his pre-season trial, Taylor has been one of Bowyer's underwhelming signings in his reign at Valley Parade. A heavily experienced attacking midfielder who has had spells at the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool, Taylor had the CV to match City's ambitions, but has struggled to cope with the high tempo of League Two football and has built a reputation of hitting the woodwork rather than the back of the net. With the likes of Harry Pritchard and Shay McCartan also vying for his position, it would make sense to release an ageing Taylor to find himself a new club, with an even bulkier CV.
Jake Reeves- Keep
Originally signed by McCall all those years ago, Reeves has finally got back to his much anticipated play time following constant lengthy injury problems which at one point threatened his career. However, since coming back into the side Reeves has been the creative, hard-working midfielder who will either play a blinder or unfortunately disappear for the majority of the game, but when he has a blinder, he shows he possesses the qualities of the league above. It's likely Reeves will be eager to sign a new contract to repay the faith City have shown in him for the past few years in believing he will return to full fitness and demonstrate his qualities once again. And he's got great hair too.
Shay McCartan- Keep
Possibly the most obvious decision, McCartan has been somewhat of an outcast in his time at Valley Parade, struggling for chances in his first year at City before spending a healthy season at Lincoln City which he won promotion, the Northern Irish attacking playmaker has began to show his colours for Bradford. Scoring memorable goals against Swindon Town, his match winner in October at home and his emphatic free-kick away in Wiltshire to earn the Bantams a much deserved point, McCartan has shown that he has the quality to dawn the shirt whilst also evidencing key moments in Bradford's season. One of the few players who can cause excitement in a Bradford midfield, whether if he is playing on the wing or behind the striker.
Adam Henley- Keep
One of three City right-backs who are out of contract this June, Henley has split fans in his ability. Without a doubt right-back has been City's weak link this season, completely being in contrast to the left-back spot Connor Wood has made his own. But out of Joe Riley, Kelvin Mellor and Henley, the former Welsh international is the one who I personally would rather see. Henley has proven past credentials, being a Welsh international, having made 80 appearances for Blackburn Rovers in the Championship whilst also spending time in America, it feels like Henley has more to offer and if McCall was to release him it could be Bradford missing out on a coup. Henley has acted as more of a back-up to Mellor this season, however, Wood acted as a back-up to Adam Chicksen last season, and look how that has turned out.
Jermaine Anderson- Release
Upon arriving at Bradford, Anderson failed to earn the plaudits of former employers Peterborough United and Doncaster Rovers. Whilst he is still young, his future at Valley Parade hangs on a thread after a second lacklustre season at Bradford, despite bundling the ball over the line away at Cheltenham for a consolation goal, he just simply has not shown he has the quality to challenge for City. When wearing the shirt he has appeared lazy and out of his depth, but not all hope is lost for the midfielder. Just 24 years old, Anderson will surely be able to rebuild his career most likely at National League level, but unfortunately for City fans he'll most likely never be a starting player in a depleted Bantams squad.
Zeli Ismail- Keep
Once touted the future Albanian Messi during his promising years at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ismail's career has gone downhill since his youth career. However, upon joining City Ismail has not been shy, showing flair and technique on the right wing and has looked prolific, battling for his place against Dylan Connolly. Unfortunately for Ismail, injuries have dampened his time in West Yorkshire and due to that he hasn't really shown the fans what he is capable of but hopefully we will get to see what he can do. McCall will hopefully be looking to copy what he did with Mark Marshall in 2016 with Ismail, and Bantams could potentially unlock the quality of a silky, clinical winger who has shown glimpses of class this season.
Kelvin Mellor- Release
The tall right-back clearly has something about him, as he previously was involved in the Championship's Team of the Season in Blackpool's promotion season under Gary Bowyer. You would imagine that Bowyer out of everybody would be able to get the best out of Mellor as the pair were comfortable with one another, yet he failed to do so and due to Bowyer's dismissal, fans will be hoping to see the dominant right-back follow him out of Valley Parade.
Joe Riley- Release
In all honesty, the most likely player to be released. Riley had immediate potential when joining the Bantams at the beginning of last season, being a big-name signing from Premier League giants Manchester United. Whilst it may look silly now, I originally backed Riley to get the captaincy which eventually went to Josh Wright, as a youngster with leadership flowing through his veins. Unfortunately, Riley has been plagued with injury problems during his time in West Yorkshire, missing out of the majority of last season before impressing in the 2019/20 pre-season, even looking like the best right-back City had. Yet once again, the promising defender once again suffered a season-ending injury and has made a measly four competitive appearance for Bradford in his two seasons at the club. Alongside this, Riley's wages have damaged the club's financial structure as he is reportedly picking up a pay check of approximately £5k a week, a substantial fee to say he has been struggling with injury for so long. With the coronavirus continuing to threaten the club's future, it's most likely McCall will call it a day on his hopes for Riley to avoid any irreplaceable damage to the club's position in the EFL.
Daniel Devine- Keep
Another player who will be sure to split City fans opinions, Devine is a graduate of the Bradford youth system. I would simply opt to keep Devine for the fact he is an adequate player to fill the homegrown rule the EFL have in place that every match day squad requires a player who has come through the youth system of the club, which Devine fulfils. Alongside that, the 2016/17 season when the midfielder first broke into the City side before Josh Cullen eventually arrived at the club, he was playing at the top of his game and impressing in League One under McCall. If McCall could replicate the tactics he employed on Devine back then, the Bradforian could be pushing for a first team place in the near future.
Jordan Gibson- Keep
Despite impressing enough in trial to earn a contract at Valley Parde, the former Rangers prospect looks like the silky, dominant winger that McCall loves to work with. He has lacked opportunities at Valley Parade and has witnessed the turning of five different Bantams bosses before being at the disposal of McCall for the second time. If given the chances, Gibson could be the class flare and make that left wing position his own, but he probably only deserves one more season, as each of those five managers have overlooked Gibson for the positon. However, under Bowyer Gibson did start early on in the season and was looking prolific before suffering a knock which decided his season and relegated him to the bench. Now he has more experience and muscle, surely Gibson could be a bright spark in a McCall team.
George Sykes-Kenworthy- Keep
Similar to Devine, Sykes-Kenworthy fills the vacancy of the homegrown status. At just the age of 19, the goalkeeper has lacked chances at City but at such a young age he has made his way onto the bench and therefore forced Sam Hornby to leave the club on a season-long loan to AFC Fylde. He clearly has something about him and has even impressed the goalkeeper coach David Vaughan, but his talents are yet to be showcased to the Bradford fans but there's nothing fans love more than a youth prospect making his way into the first team.
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