Wayne Jacobs remembers Nicky Law as a never-say-die team-mate.
And he still expects the same sort of passionate approach to the game from City's newly-installed manager.
Jacobs and Law played together at Rotherham before the long-serving defender moved on to Valley Parade. Ian Banks, expected to follow Law from Chesterfield as his number two, was also in the side.
Jacobs said: "Nicky was always an aggressive character on the park.
"He liked to organise people and had plenty of passion. I would imagine his management style is the same.
"I've got a lot of relatives in south Yorkshire and they read in the papers how well he has done at Chesterfield in very difficult circumstances.
"It's a fresh start for everyone with a new man at the helm.
"I've been through this 100 times but it's never any different - you've got to go out there and prove you are worthy of a place.
"It will obviously take the new manager some time to get to know the players and work out what he wants. Nicky deserves the chance to stabilise things and then have a right push next year."
City chairman Geoffrey Richmond had said a quick appointment was unlikely and did not expect to draw up a short-list until later this week.
"But as soon as he met Law, he knew the Chesterfield manager was the right man for the job.
Richmond said: "There were a large number of applicants but they basically fell into three categories: out of work managers, foreign coaches or first time managers. After careful consideration I felt it was in the best intereste of Bradford City to appoint an up-and-coming manager who had enjoyed some success rather than any of the categories mentioned.
"Nicky Law had an extremely difficult baptism as a league manager at Chesterfield where despite off-the-field problems he achieved promotion against all the odds.
"The qualities I believe he will bring to the post are his ambition, passion, work ethic and his outstanding ability to discover young talent."
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