McCall has work to do as transfer clock ticks

BRADFORD BOOST: Josh Cullen (left) has seen his loan stay extended

ATHLETIC could be taking on Bradford City at the perfect point in time, with Stuart McCall's play-off chasers currently in a state of flux.

Five players have left this month, the latest of whom is stalwart James Hanson, who has gone to Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.

In addition, former Athletic defender Nathan Clarke has departed Valley Parade for Coventry, Haris Vuckic ended his loan to go back to parent club Newcastle, fringe forward Vincent Rabiega has been released and loan striker Marc McNulty was recalled by the Blades.

EXCHANGE

In the other way in exchange for an undisclosed fee has come Alex Jones, a 22-year-old striker from Birmingham who netted 10 times for Port Vale on loan this season, with Newcastle winger Alex Gilliead (20) in on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

And while the loan extension of key midfielder Josh Cullen, from West Ham, has given a boost to the Bantams, there is a feeling that there is yet significant ground to be made up in the current transfer window.

And all of that movement comes amid a background of two wins in Sky Bet League One in the last eight outings - not a record that is compatible with a club chasing the play-offs.

For McCall, the late postponement of this week's Checkatrade Trophy quarter-final at Oxford means that the rearranged clash at the Kassam Stadium takes place on the same evening as the transfer window deadline.

"I hadn't even thought of that," McCall told the Telegraph and Argus. "But hopefully we can have our business done before that.

"We've lost five players and brought two in.

"As I said at the start of the month, we want to come out of this window stronger and at the moment we're weaker. We've got a lot of work to do between now and the close."

The decision to sell Hanson, in a deal that could top £200,000, could be followed up by the signing of German striker Anton Fink, top scorer in the Bundesliga's third tier for Chemnitzer.

But there are also talks of clubs taking a close interest in left-back James Meredith, the scorer in Bradford's 1-1 draw with Millwall last Saturday.

Championship duo Norwich and Leeds are said to have some interest in the defender, whose current contract runs out in the summer.