DAVID Hopkin won’t allow City to be put over a barrel by agents trying to exploit their precarious situation.

The Bantams head coach looks to have drawn a blank in his bid to bring in some fresh faces for tomorrow’s Valley Parade visit from leaders Portsmouth.

Hopkin has been in talks over several free agents but admits negotiations have become “tedious” as they haggle for a deal.

And he refuses to pay over the odds because players know how desperate City are for short-term reinforcements.

Hopkin said: “Sometimes it’s agents and other things that manipulate the way situations go.

“I spoke to four or five players this week and thought I’d maybe get one or two done.

“People think because of where we are in the league that they can get a wee bit more.

“But I want people here for the right reasons and people who are going to help us out of where we are.

“I’d rather go with the squad of players we have just now and make sure the right ones become available.

“You talk to players with fantastic calibre and pedigree but they haven’t played since May. I think they should jump at the chance to come and play here.”

Paul Caddis continues to train with City but Hopkin will wait until next week to make a decision on him. The Bantams chief is unimpressed with those other free agents showing a reluctance to take a punt on League One’s bottom side.

“Sometimes it’s difficult because when agents want a deal done, they take it somewhere else,” he added.

“It becomes a play-off between clubs and I don’t get involved in that. I never have done.

“We make what we think is a reasonable offer and take it from there. If it doesn’t materialise, I move on.

“I don’t sit and haggle and think of paying more money for someone who doesn’t want to be here.

“That’s part of being shrewd and clever in management. I don’t want players who just want to come and get an extra X amount of money.

“A club like Bradford shouldn’t need to be paying over the odds. We should have a structure where people want to come here and play football.

“It’s a massive club and fantastic fanbase, and I’ll make sure going forward that due diligence is done on every player before they come in. I need to get the right people in.”

Left back Adam Chicksen could come straight in after a nine-week absence. But Sean Scannell is a major doubt again as he still has problems with his back.

Hopkin hopes a clash with the division’s top dogs is the ideal way to bounce back from the second-half horror show at Gillingham.

“It’s a fantastic home game and I know they bring a lot of fans up with them.

“They get fantastic vocal backing everywhere they go.

“It’s a game that the players should be looking forward to. We’re playing against a team full of confidence, full of goals.

“It’s probably the right game for us, top v bottom. It’s a challenge that hopefully the players can rise to.”

A group of fans have raised money for a plane to fly over during the first half with a banner protesting against owners Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp.

But Hopkin will ignore the distraction.

“If any of my players are looking at the sky, then I’ll be worried!” he said.

“It doesn’t bother any of us. I’m only interested in the football side and that’s where my focus is.

“No matter what’s gone on in the past, it’s going to affect everybody. Not just me or the fans, or Edin and Stefan but everybody.

“If we keep blaming people then we’re never going to get out of where we are.”