NINE Bantams are set to depart Valley Parade upon the expiry of their contracts next month, including long-serving defensive duo Anthony O’Connor and Connor Wood.

The pair have been at the club since 2018, and had made well over 100 appearances each in City colours.

Lots of experience will be lost in attack too, with Clayton Donaldson, Lee Novak and Billy Clarke all set to depart too.

Injured midfield duo Harry Pritchard and Zeli Ismail will also be leaving the club.

City fans will be pleased to see midfield trio Callum Cooke, Elliot Watt and Levi Sutton staying put, while Paudie O’Connor, who won the club’s prestigious JCT600 Player of the Year award last week, is also going to remain at Valley Parade next season.

Club captain Richard O’Donnell is also staying for at least another season.

The full list of players who have not been offered new contracts ahead of the 2021/22 season, and will be released, is:

- Anthony O’Connor

- Billy Clarke

- Clayton Donaldson

- Connor Shanks

- Connor Wood

- Harry Pritchard

- Lee Novak

- Will Huffer

- Zeli Ismail

The following players remain under contract ahead of the 2021/22 season - and will be retained:

- Callum Cooke

- Charles Vernam

- Elliot Watt

- Finn Cousin-Dawson

- Gareth Evans

- Levi Sutton

- Niall Canavan

- Ollie Crankshaw

- Paudie O’Connor

- Reece Staunton

- Richard O’Donnell

City have also confirmed that Jorge Sikora, Kian Scales, Matty Foulds and Sam Hornby have all been offered new contracts.

Meanwhile, loanees Andy Cook, Jordan Stevens and Rumarn Burrell have returned to their respective parent clubs - Mansfield, Leeds and Middlesbrough - following the expiry of short-term agreements.

However, Mansfield have announced that Cook is to be released and will become a free agent in summer, which could be of interest to City.

Injured trio Pritchard, Huffer and Ismail will continue to receive treatment at City’s Woodhouse Grove training base until the end of their respective rehabilitation programmes.

The club said it would like to take this opportunity to thank all released players for their efforts while at Bradford City - and wish them the very best for the future.