Gary Bowyer will be hoping to take Bradford City back up to Sky Bet League One at the first time of asking in the 2019-20 season.

Relegated in 2018-19

The Bantams finished bottom of the league in 2018-19, nine points adrift of safety, bringing their six-year spell in the third tier to an end.

They ended the campaign with a three-game unbeaten run, but were already relegated following seven straight league defeats across March and April.

And they will be hoping for an immediate return to League One this season – in their first League Two campaign since 2012-13 – when they beat Northampton Town in the play-off final.

Gary Bowyer

The ex-Blackpool boss took charge of Bradford in March, and beat Peterborough United 3-1 in his first game in charge at Valley Parade.

But Bowyer, who has a track record of promoting youth talent, ultimately wasn’t able to stop the rot as they lost their subsequent seven league games.

The 47-year-old took Blackpool back to League One, via the play-offs, at the first time of asking in 2017, and he will be hoping to do the same with Bradford this season.

Players

Bowyer has released 11 out-of-contract players this summer, including ex-Town striker Alex Jones – who joined the Mariners on loan from Birmingham City in 2015.

He also released Adam Chicksen, Ryan McGowan, Ben Wilson, Billy Clarke, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Calum Woods, Cameron Hawkes, Callum Gunner, Tom Clare, and Paul Caddis.

Goalkeeper Sam Hornby, Ben Richards-Everton and Tyler French made the move to Valley Parade this summer, while Danny Devine extended his contract with the Bantams.

Grimsby Town 2019-20 season tickets are available here.