By Jason McKeown

Some seasons, the annual retained list decisions are easy to make. Release everyone! Start again! This year’s deal or no deal decision making was much tougher for Graham Alexander, as he assesses members of a squad who have played their part in delivering long overdue success.

Do you get sentimental and keep promotion heroes on? Or do you be ruthless, especially with the considerable challenge ahead of operating at a higher level?

Alexander has probably veered more towards the ruthless. He hasn’t so much cleared the decks, but of the 13 members of the squad out of contract, only seven will definitely be offered terms to continue. Here’s our verdict.

Sam Walker – offered new deal

It’s been such a great move for Sam Walker, who arrived at Valley Parade in January 2024 to fill the Harry Lewis-shaped hole and fitted in brilliantly from day one. He’d had five clubs in five years, rarely playing regularly for anyone – but has come in and played 66 straight league games for the Bantams.

At 33 he might not have the longest of shelf lives, but there’s no reason why he can’t do another great job for City next season. Good to keep him around.

Lewis Richards – offered new deal

Lewis Richards is a good example of what Stephen Gent is trying to do in finding young, promising players who can grow with the club. He looked a steady player in 2023/24, without really shifting the dial. And when he began this season as back up to Tyreik Wright, that seemed fair enough.

But Wright’s initial struggles in the left wing back slot, and eventual injury problems, was Richards’ gain. Richards suddenly moved onto another level and was outstanding. In the middle part of the season, there’s a strong argument to make he was City’s best player.

It was so unfortunate Richards suffered a bad injury against AFC Wimbledon in February – and his attempt to return, away at Bromley in March, saw him suffer another, season-ending set back. City haven’t missed him with Tayo Adaramola coming in and doing so well, but with the Crystal Palace loanee returning, the opportunity is there for Richards to continue his progress and establish himself as a solid League One wing back.

Providing he has better luck with injuries, it’s all there for him to thrive next season.

Sam Stubbs – released

Sam Stubbs’ time at City will go down as mixed for sure. So impressive after arriving mid-way through the 2022/23 play off season, but in 2023/24 he struggled and his form was especially poor just as Graham Alexander took over. There was a bit of a revival for a time last season. But ultimately, he didn’t convince the City manager. So a season long loan was arranged.

By all accounts, Stubbs has played really well at Cheltenham. 41 appearances, two goals and two assists. Whoscored.com ranked Stubbs the sixth best player in the whole of League Two this season, based on average performance rating.

You would assume Stubbs will make his loan move permanent, although he may attract interest from other League Two clubs.

Richie Smallwood – offered new deal

Smallwood will be 35 in December and there might be concerns his legs will start to go in the near future. But in Alexander, he has the perfect manager. The City boss holds the record as the oldest outfield player to make his Premier League debut, when he turned out for Burnley at 37. So he knows first-hand that players can continue to thrive during their later years – even in a higher division.

Alexander will understand Smallwood better than the player himself. The City skipper has the perfect mentor to help him squeeze every last drop out of his playing career.

Jamie Walker – released

Jamie Walker’s service and impact for Bradford City deserves its own article, and we’ve done just that. Best of luck, Jamie.

Colin Doyle – in talks with the club

Colin Doyle is in talks about some sort of deal. You would assume it’s more about keeping him as a goalkeeper coach than a player, though retaining his playing registration makes sense.

It’s been great that Doyle is getting to end his playing career at the Bantams. His 2018 departure, instigated by Edin Rahic, left a really sour taste. Doyle and his family were very settled in the area and even when he joined Hearts and Kilmarnock his loved ones remained in West Yorkshire. The last three years as back up keeper at City, not having to commute North of the Border for employment, must have meant so much to the Doyle clan.

Doyle is one of those players who just gets this club – and evidently adores it. Hopefully, he will get to be our goalkeeping coach for years to come.

Ciaran Kelly – offered new deal

Ciaran Kelly had all sorts of injury problems in 2024/25, but when fit he largely played very well – especially mid-season. With all the centre back competition, you felt he would struggle to get in the team this season. But as the bar raised, so did his performances.

Over the last 12 months, he’s firmly demonstrated he is an EFL standard player. He is not flashy. He isn’t going to command massive attention, or even his own chant. But his commitment and determination is huge – and it’s taken him a long way.

I don’t think we would have expected Kelly to get another deal a year ago, but the fact he has earned one says everything about his growth.

Romoney Crichlow – released

Hate to say it, but I feared this would happen. I wrote at the time Crichlow re-signed that I wasn’t fully convinced this was a good move. In recent years we’ve seen loanees do well at City, move on to pastures new but struggle, and then return not quite looking the same player.

After struggling at Peterborough (just eight minutes gametime in a Posh shirt this season, no league start since September 2023) I worried it would be similar with Crichlow – and to an extent this did happen. He wasn’t terrible by any means, just not quite the force he was during his 2022/23 loan spell. I think you could see Alexander didn’t really fancy him for the left centre back role, especially compared to Kelly.

Crichlow should find another club this summer no problem. He just needs a home to play week in week out. He’s got so much to offer but the last two years have not worked out as he’d have hoped, and mentally that will take a bit of coming back from.

Vadaine Oliver – released

I wrote an Oliver goodbye article in January when he was loaned out at Shrewsbury, and really there is nothing new to say about his disappointing three years at Valley Parade. At the New Meadow, Oliver scored two goals from four starts and nine sub appearances. A player of his type is rare, and for that reason he will probably find another EFL club this summer. Good luck to him.

Paul Huntington – offered opportunity to train with the club pre-season

At 37, Huntington seemed nothing more than a short-term signing, but Alexander is rightly delighted with how it worked out. Huntington added vital experience and reassurance. A guy who could come on in the closing stages to shore up winning positions, and who when he started (nine times in total) made a difference. His Boxing Day performance against Port Vale’s Jayden Stockley, in what was such a pivotal afternoon in City’s season, stands out.

Huntington was just an all-round class act who quietly gave so much. Like with Smallwood, the fact Alexander is manager of City means that the defender’s aging years doesn’t have to rule him out of playing a role going forwards. We’ll see how pre-season goes for him.

Callum Johnson – released

It’s a tough one with Callum Johnson. He arrived last summer with a reputation of being an excellent player – who just couldn’t stay fit. Over his time at City he looked an excellent player – who just couldn’t stay fit.

It was both what we expected and feared, yet in those moments when he was available you could see what the fuss was about. A very solid, very composed defender who could have made a bigger difference if it wasn’t for those meddling injuries. But to have only started three league games says it all.

Harry Ibbitson – offered a new deal

It’s worth noting that EFL rules mean you can only have a maximum of 22 players in your squad, not counting goalkeepers and players under 21. In 2024/25, Bobby Pointon and Calum Kavanagh didn’t count towards that 22, but will next season. That means City will have to have a slightly smaller first team squad to accommodate them in the 22 – which also means young players like 19-year-old Ibbitson could get more of an opportunity to make up the overall numbers.

Ibbitson did get a brief glimpse of first team action in the EFL Trophy loss to Birmingham. He is highly rated and had a couple of loan spells to aid his development. Keeping him around makes sense, and hopefully next season he gets the chance to show what he can do.

Zac Haldi – offered a new deal

Haldi is highly rated by the club and spent the end of the 2024/25 season on loan at Liversedge. He appeared on the bench a few times this season and will be looking to get game time – such as in the EFL Trophy – next time out.

Gabe Wadsworth – released

Good luck Gabe!

Categories: Opinion

Tags: 2024/25, BCAFC