Lewis Richards, a star for Bradford City, may be leaving the team in the next few days as no new contract has been announced.
Despite being given a new contract in May, the left-back, who helped the Bantams win promotion to League Two the previous season, has not yet signed it. Rumours that he might actually be moving have been fanned by reports of interest from League One team Stockport Country.
Richards struggled to make an impact after Christmas despite playing 22 league games the previous season, in part because of Tayo Adaramola’s performance while on loan from Crystal Palace. Nevertheless, he was crucial to Bradford’s promotion, particularly in January when he scored in back-to-back games against Grimsby and Barrow.
If claims that Dave Challinor’s side are monitoring the 23-year-old in hope of winning his signature are genuine, Richards faces a difficult dilemma.
Next season, City and Stockport will be direct league opponents, therefore Alexander will want to avoid bolstering a rival. When the Hatters returned to League One last season, they made a strong push for promotion, just losing out on the automatics in third place. In the playoffs, the team would lose to Leyton Orient on penalties.
If Bradford doesn’t offer Richards new terms, he will have to make the decision and probably want to play in the third division.
Speculation has ramped up in recent days, after Bradford announced the signing of ex-Wimbledon wing-back Josh Neufville. Arriving on a three-year deal, Neufville featured in all 49 of Wimbledon’s League Two games last term, culminating in a play-off promotion at the expense of Walsall. Operating as a defensively solid and both-sided, fast full-back, he will provide added competition for stalwart Brad Halliday, who has continuously impressed at right-back for the club.
Neufville’s arrival does temper expectations that fan-favourite Adaramola could return from Crystal Palace, and manager Graham Alexander will see the pair as like for like. Though it is not yet known whether he is a replacement for the latter, for Richards, or for both.
Ruthless City yet to make decision
City have made a fast start to their summer transfer business, and Neufville’s arrival marks the club’s fourth incoming. Max Power, Joe Wright, and Curtis Tilt have all joined City, and a fifth is set to be announced before the squad begin pre-season on 23rd June.
While there has been no official communication from the club regarding the hold up in negotiations with Richards, it is likely that external interest is delaying any agreement that may be reached. If he were to depart, he would be another in a string of players to leave the club after promotion last season. Bradford have already let go of winger Jamie Walker, defender Romoney Crichlow, and club captain Richie Smallwood, proving to be ruthless after such a strong campaign.
Alexander is ultimately in charge, and he must not be scared to make these kinds of choices if City is to succeed in League One. Richards might turn out to be the same.
Bradford hasn’t prepared for his replacement, and it’s not ideal to see him join a division rival as well as a possible play-off contender. In this brutal new period the club finds itself in, Alexander must face this obstacle head-on.
