TAKEOVER talk will not disrupt City's plans as they try to pick up the pieces at Sheffield United, Phil Parkinson stressed today.

The Bantams head for Bramall Lane still sore from the 6-0 home thrashing by promoted Bristol City – their heaviest loss of the Parkinson era.

But it has been overshadowed by the revelation that the club are locked in talks with former QPR chairman Gianni Paladini over a possible buy-out.

Parkinson has been kept in the loop by joint-chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn but the City boss does not see it as an off-field distraction.

He said: "It doesn't impact at all. Obviously Julian and Mark have kept me informed over the last six to eight weeks.

"What happens will happen. I understand what is going on and obviously they are trying to do the best for the club going forward.

"Personally it's out of my control and there's no point me asking too much about it with the board. I'm sure they will do what they think is right."

Parkinson's pressing job is to gee up a squad whose lingering play-off hopes were obliterated by the League One leaders in midweek.

He brought the players in to training the morning afterwards, where he set them the "mini" target of beating last season's 11th-place finish.

The Bantams boss said: "I think we were up against a team absolutely flying high. We've conceded two goals against them and it completely demoralised the group after recent results.

"The lads have been so desperate to get up and around those play-offs. It was just the realisation that it had slipped away from them and it became too much.

"We came in the following day and had a good chat with all the lads. We've got to go and put in a performance for Bradford City to be proud of.

"I told the lads that when you get knocked down in football, you have to get back up again quickly.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves because the only people who can put things right are us. Nobody is going to do it for us.

"We've come a long way as a group of players together and had so many good moments. But the lads are only human.

"The likes of Darbs (Stephen Darby), Rory McArdle and Mez (James Meredith) have gone at it week in, week out because they want it so badly. Everybody wants to be the best they can.

"But you saw after getting beaten at Gillingham last Saturday, when they had put so much into it for nothing, the lads were on the floor."

A Yorkshire derby at the fifth-placed Blades, who have not yet guaranteed their play-off spot, offers City the immediate chance to bounce back. They also face Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Crewe in the final fortnight of the campaign.

Parkinson said: "Our pride was obviously dented the other night because we got beaten badly. But reputations are at stake.

"We've still got four games to go and it's important that we pick ourselves up for those. It's not going to be easy but that's what we've got to do.

"We've got a reputation within the city as a football club who always put in committed and honest performances. I don't think anyone could argue.

"Can we finish above last year? That's got to be the aim for us now.

"It's going to be hard because we are down to the bare bones but we've got to pick a system for Sheffield United that we feel gives us the best chance."

Mark Yeates is struggling to face his former club with his on-going shoulder issue. He was taken off at half-time on Tuesday.

There are other knocks to concern Parkinson, although Andrew Davies has had a "good week" and is closer to coming back into contention.

Parkinson is hoping Gary MacKenzie's ankle will calm down after playing twice in four days.

"I feel a bit for Gaz because he played terrifically well at Gillingham and we've thrown him out there again on Tuesday," said Parkinson.

"We wanted to keep the same back four but physically he found it tough. But he's had a good rest now so that should have settled."