GARY Bowyer has played down talk of Colin Doyle coming back to Valley Parade.

The keeper is being strongly linked with a summer return to City from Hearts.

Doyle, whose family are still based in the Bingley area, left the Bantams last June claiming he was never offered a new contract to sign.

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He penned a two-year deal for Craig Levein’s side but has struggled to unseat Zdenek Zlamal from the Hearts goal, making just 12 appearances.

Doyle is set to be on the bench as back-up to the Czech again when Hearts face Celtic in the Scottish Cup final this weekend.

Bowyer is in the market for a goalkeeper after releasing Ben Wilson, who is understood to be in talks with two League One clubs.

There is also a question mark over the future of previous first-choice Richard O’Donnell after he was dropped for the final four games of the season.

But the City boss is playing it straight over the Doyle speculation.

He said: “I’ve not heard anything on that front.

“We’ll get linked on that one but as far as I understand he’s contracted at Hearts.”

Bowyer had just taken over as Blackpool manager in 2016 when Doyle signed for City – for a £1 relegation release clause.

Bowyer added: “It made both of us famous!

“I only worked with Colin for about a week and then got told he’s been sold to Bradford for a pound. I was involved in that deal that created history.

“On a serious note, we’re going to get linked with loads of players. The summer will be one of those full of rumours.

“But until a deal’s ever done, it’s never done.”

The Telegraph & Argus understands that reports of City’s interest in bringing back another former player, Tony McMahon, are wide of the mark.

McMahon was released last summer and joined Oxford before spending the second half of the season on loan at Scunthorpe.

Bowyer made Accrington centre half Ben Richards-Everton his first signing last week and continues to weed through his potential transfer options.

“It’s ongoing with the list that we’ve got,” he said.

“There are the ones that we like but, at this moment, you’re crossing names off because they are either wanting too much money or want to play higher than the league we’ll be in next season.

“I totally understand both instances. From that point of view, it does make it a little bit easier because you can cross them off.

“We’ve just got to keep working at it and checking out the players that first and foremost are good characters and good people.

“I know exactly what the Bradford City fans want to see in those wearing the shirt. It’s important that we manage to bring them here.”