Supporters aren’t daft – and if they like the product, they will turn out in big numbers to watch.

That’s why the massive home crowds speak for themselves this season.

Let’s face it, the City fans have had to put up with enough dross over the years.

Now they have got a team to be proud of and you’re seeing attendances of 18,000 again.

I speak to a lot of supporters and they cannot wait for the next game. There are plenty coming out of the woodwork who’ve not been going since the Premier League days but they’ve got the bug back again.

The size of the Valley Parade crowds are also a powerful argument for the manager. It’s a great selling point for getting players into the club.

Come down here and have a look at this atmosphere – why wouldn’t you want to be part of that?

You don’t have to sell the potential of Bradford City being a big club any more. Now players can see the evidence for themselves.

Would Matthew Bates have looked to come to Bradford two years ago? Of course not.

He was captain at Middlesbrough playing in the Premier League and Championship. Why would he?

But now you’re getting that better calibre of player in the club – that’s down to Phil Parkinson and the sheer weight of numbers of fans.

As a player, there is nothing better than running out to those surroundings at home. The crowd is behind you, backing you all the way and the place is buzzing.

Far better that than some half-empty stadium where you have to motivate yourself because everything feels so flat.

I remember when we played at Odsal after the fire. It was all right at first but once the novelty wore off, home games became soul-destroying.

Talking of Rotherham, they had exactly the same scenario when they had to move to the Don Valley. The whole thing was awful – it was a terrible pitch and there was no atmosphere at all.

It was no coincidence that they stood still as a club. Then once they went to the new ground, they had lift-off.