Richardson has returned to Northern Premier League East Division side Cleethorpes Town on a permanent deal, having impressed there on loan last season.
And yesterday afternoon Cousin-Dawson, a regular for City during the 2020-21 season, joined Yeovil Town, who won National League South last term.
But everyone else is still playing the waiting game, with former first-team regulars Harry Chapman and Liam Ridehalgh among those yet to land at their next destination following their departure from Valley Parade.
The threat of being on the ‘released list’ is a sad reality for hundreds of footballers across the EFL every summer, but it is always possible to bounce back.
We’ve taken a look at four recent releases who have had an interesting time of things since leaving BD8
Gibson was never shy in giving an opinion, as shown when he publicly criticised then-manager Simon Grayson for some ill-judged post-match comments in May 2018.
Gibson was just 20 years old at the time, but he hit back after Grayson had questioned his attitude and application in training, admitting he found the boss’ words “frustrating” and even suggesting the former Leeds and Preston supremo had “lacked bravery” in not playing him more.
And even though he had some chances under Gary Bowyer, the midfielder’s career never really took off at Valley Parade, and a move to St Patrick’s Athletic looked as if it would be the last we saw of him.
But after a short spell at Sligo Rovers too, he returned from Ireland to England with Carlisle, where he made an impression against City by scoring a beauty in a 2-0 win at Brunton Park.
Again, Gibson’s outspoken nature came to the fore, as he celebrated wildly in front of jeering Bantams fans before insisting he was “treated fairly badly” at City.
Gibson’s father has also been known to rub fans of his son’s clubs up the wrong way too, so it’s unlikely the pair will ever be the most popular duo at Valley Parade.
And now the 26-year-old has signed for the Bantams’ League Two rivals Doncaster, expect him to get a somewhat frosty reception when Rovers rock up in BD8 next season.
TOM CLARE (2019)
Young striker Clare never made a competitive first-team appearance for City during his one season there, though he did score twice in a friendly against Harrogate Town in July 2018.
Just a shame the Bantams let in seven at the other end.
The following year, after a short hop over to Horsfall, he was Bradford (Park Avenue)’s joint top scorer in National League North.
But he only actually found the net five times, and Avenue were on course to be relegated by a mile, only for the Covid-19 pandemic to spare them from going down as the season was declared null and void.
Clare bounced around non-league thereafter, and has found a home in the last few years in the form of phoenix club Macclesfield.
But he is probably better known to our younger readers for appearing on a dating show, ITV2’s cultural behemoth Love Island.
Clare has done pretty well out of it all things considered, coming third in his original season after a popular coupling with Samie Elishi.
He was back a year later after splitting up with Elishi, and went on to win the All Stars version of the show with Molly Smith, despite the presence of her former boyfriend Callum Jones on the island.
Who needs football anyway?
BILLY KNOTT (2016)
Knott will always have a special place in the hearts of City fans, after blasting home a brilliant equaliser in a 2-1 win over arch-enemies Leeds in the 2014 League Cup.
That season was full of great memories for Knott, who also played his part in the Bantams’ shock FA Cup wins over Chelsea and Sunderland too.
A maverick with a penchant for the spectacular and the exciting, the young midfielder looked to have the world at his feet.
But in the second half of the 2015-16 campaign, Phil Parkinson chose to put his trust in the more reliable duo of Lee Evans and Josh Cullen in the middle of the park.
Knott’s time at City quickly fizzled out and he was released that summer.
While he played a key late-season role in Lincoln winning the National League in 2016-17, Knott’s career soon spiralled as he fought against some horrible demons.
Addicted to drink and drugs, Knott nearly became homeless, while he also admitted to stealing money from his family, all candidly revealed by the player himself in a desperate cry for help on Twitter in 2022.
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