Bradford Boss McCall Looks to Non-League

Bradford City boss Stuart McCall is taking a different course of action this season as he bids to get his beloved Bantams into League One.
McCall might have been forced to change tact with the Bantams making huge cuts to their wage bill this term, but the former Rangers star has puts his faith in some of the country’s non-league talent.
The West Yokshire side had great league 2 odds for promotion last term, but a late season collapse saw the men from Valley Parade miss out on the play-offs.
That squad was largely made up of players who had performed at a higher level and the budget, as joint-chairman Mark Lawn has pointed out, was ‘pushed out’ to secure promotion.
After the failings of last season the belt had to be tightened this time around and the likes of Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee, Rhys Evans and Paul Arnison were all offloaded.
Instead this term McCall, who himself has taken a pay cut, has gone down the non-league avenue to increase their football betting odds.
Dagenham and Barnet might be used to plucking players from low down the ladder, but it’s never been seen at Valley Parade before.
McCall might have been swayed by the limited budget, but it appears the former Scottish international has identified hunger as a key attribute for his new recruits this time around.
The players he had last term might have had experience at a higher level but their hunger was debatable.
However this campaign McCall has revamped his squad with James Hanson from Guiseley, Steve Williams from Bamber Bridge and Scott Neilson from Cambridge City and all three have made an early impact.
Winger Neilson, 22, only arrived last week as a replacement for Joe Colbeck, but netted on his full debut in the win at Rochdale – City’s third win on the spin, while centre-back Williams, 22, has already grabbed a place in the first team and also scored in the win at Cheltenham.
Young striker Hanson, 21, also looks a shrewd acquisition with his height and mobility set to cause teams problems and he already has two goals.
The trio look all set to make a big contribution to the Bantams this season and will be hoping to repay McCall’s faith in them with promotion come May.