Goalkeeper Aidan Davison today sprang a major surprise by rejecting Bradford City's offer of a new contract.

The decision left Paul Jewell with a potential goalkeeping problem for Sunday's Premiership match against Leeds United, but the City manager is hoping that Matt Clarke will be fit to play.

Clarke has been out of action for nearly seven weeks with a medial knee ligament injury, but Jewell said: "He has trained all week and I am hoping he will be fit.

"If he is fit it will be a major boost for us, but we will just have to see how he goes."

Davison, who has been on loan to City for three months from Sheffield United, was expected to sign a contract today, but he told chairman Geoffrey Richmond he had decided to turn down the club's offer.

Richmond, who negotiated the terms of the contract with the 31-year-old Northern Ireland international yesterday, said: "His decision is a major surprise because the package we offered him was considerably more than he enjoys as Sheffield United's reserve goalkeeper.

"I spoke with him for an hour and he said he would go home to talk things over and give his decision today.

"When we spoke to each other this morning he said he had decided to turn down our offer."

Jewell, who signed Davison on loan in November when Gary Walsh had his first knee operation, was equally surprised.

He said: "It is disappointing. He has done well for us and we made him an offer that reflected that, but he turned it down because he said it felt below his expectations."

Davison helped City in their successful battle to avoid relegation from the First Division three years ago after joining them on a free transfer from Bolton.

He turned down their offer of a new contract at the end of that season and signed for Grimsby.

Davison joined Sheffield United from Grimsby last summer, but he has been unable to command a first team place at Bramall Lane.

He got his chance in City's team towards the end of the home match against Watford in January when Clarke was carried off injured.

His loan spell ended at Spurs on Saturday when his brilliant display helped to earn a 1-1 draw.

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