Versatile veteran John Dreyer has been handed a huge boost ahead of Bradford City's crucial visit to Leicester after being offered a one-year contract extension.

The club's second-longest serving player has chalked up 12 Premiership appearances this season and scored the goal which clinched the recent 1-0 victory at Sunderland.

Dreyer, who is 37 in June, joined the Bantams in 1996 from Stoke for a bargain £25,000 and his current one-year deal was due to run out this summer.

However chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "John is a great presence around the club and in the dressing room and has done very well since coming into the side in recent weeks.

"We are delighted to offer him a further one-year contract which should take him up to pension age!

"John has done very well this year and always has a part to play."

Meanwhile, Richmond believes City's travelling army of 2,050 fans have a huge role against Leicester this Saturday. A victory for the Bantams and defeat for Wimbledon at home to Aston Villa would secure City's position in the Premiership for next season.

But it promises to be a tough test because Leicester triumphed 2-0 at Liverpool last night - a result which seriously dents the Anfield club's Champion League ambitions and increases the need for them to do well at Valley Parade on the last day of the season.

Richmond said: "The importance of this game is clear for all to see. The sight of the away enclosure being full will be hugely encouraging for the team.

"We are now effectively facing a two-game season with the handicappers having given us a point start.

"The important thing for Saturday is that we do not worry about anyone else. We have to focus on the things that we can control.

"We know if we win both games then there is nothing Wimbledon can do."

l Swindon have appointed former Bradford City coach Colin Todd as their new manager.

Todd, who has managed Bolton and Middlesbrough, fills the vacancy created by the departure of ex-Bantams striker Jimmy Quinn earlier this week after the club's relegation to Division Two was confirmed.

Todd, who stepped down as Bolton boss in September after the sale of Per Frandsen to Blackburn, managed Middlesbrough in the 1990-91 season and steered them to the Division Two play-offs.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.