David Sharpe says Bantams need players out before more in

Head of football operations David Sharpe insists that space must be cleared to allow more in.

The Bantams have brought in Antoni Sarcevic and Neill Byrne from League Two champions Stockport.

Ash Taylor has left the club after it was agreed to cancel his contract. But Sharpe admits more departures are needed.

Vadaine Oliver and Timi Odusina, who both finished last season out on loan, are understood to be surplus to Graham Alexander’s plans. Kevin McDonald and Adam Wilson are also thought to be out of the picture.

Speaking exclusively to the T&A, Sharpe said: “We’ve got a big squad and there are players that we need to move out who have still got a contract with us.

“We can’t just keep bringing in players and not move any out. We need to balance the budget and the squad.

“We obviously released a number of players, Harry Chapman, Liam Ridehalgh, Matt Derbyshire etc. But there weren’t loads out of contract.

“We have to be mindful of the ones we’ve got here already. They might not leave.

“We might try and find them a club and tell the agent that they are available. But it doesn’t necessarily happen.

“They might have a year or two left on good money and don’t want to give that up.

“We can’t leave ourselves overstretched and go and sign three or four more before the start of preseason and we’ve still got these players that are currently here.

“Obviously Ash Taylor went and we had to be aggressive with that.

“We have to clear room now. There are a few other players that are available to go and they won’t be as straightforward as moving Ash was.”

City have been busy with their recruitment so far and Sharpe does not expect a major overhaul from the team that finished the campaign with five straight wins.

“I don’t personally feel we need loads,” he added. “If you look at the squad we already have in place and the way we ended last season.

City had to be aggressive with Ash Taylor leaving (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“We’ve signed two and obviously extended Jamie Walker’s contract by another year. Bobby (Pointon) has had his option triggered and we’re sitting down with him about extending that.

“It was good to get two done early that we really wanted.”

The arrival of seasoned promotion winner Sarcevic beefs up the competition in midfield, especially with Alex Pattison set to return after a first year ravaged by injury.

Sharpe can see Sarcevic making a big impact with his goal and assist output.

“We needed a number eight.

“Jamie’s never been an eight in his career, he’s always been a 10 or off the left. But he’s now playing in an eight position with the way Graham plays, Bobby on the left of it and Jamie the right.

“Obviously with Alex Pattison being injured most of last season, We’re hoping he’ll be back and playing a good part.

“Gilly (Alex Gilliead) is a number eight that runs all day and a real workhorse. Hopefully we’ll see more of an attacking output from him.

“That’s something that Antoni can do. He’s got goals, assists and a proven pedigree.

“We feel the likes of Bobby will learn a hell of a lot from him and not just on the pitch.

“He’ll see it from what he does at training, what time he arrives, how he prepares himself, what he does after, his mentality leading into games.

“Antoni has done it at big clubs. Stockport is a big club at this level with the fanbase, Bolton as well, as we feel he can handle it here.”

Sharpe views Byrne, a player he tried to sign for Mansfield last summer, as a potential leader at the back.

Byrne's experience at the back will be crucial

“He has great experience and his background, the way he speaks and handles himself, you just feel he will be a perfect member of the group.

“He’ll be a leader on the pitch. He’ll talk players through certain situations.

“It’s not always going to be rosy. We’ll go a goal down early on and he’ll settle the whole team down.

“You’d probably say the backline last season was all quite young – Matty (Platt), Ciaran (Kelly), Dan Oyegoke at the end, Stubbsy (Sam Stubbs) are all early or mid-20s. Having that experienced one there will be crucial.

“You are getting two proven winners with Antoni and Neill. They are perfect ones to get us off to a good start this summer.”

As always, new recruits must possess the character to be able to handle the big-crowd expectation at Valley Parade. Sharpe knows that is a recruitment challenge almost unique to City at the lowest level.

“It’s difficult because players are only used to this stadium if they’ve been mainly at Championship clubs. Richie Smallwood, for instance, has had a good career.

“If you’re going to sign a League Two player, they won’t have great experience of playing in front of 18,000 fans every week.

“We can’t afford to take a load of players who are used to that because normally it means they are at a better level and we can’t afford them.

Calum Kavanagh loves playing in front of the Valley Parade fans (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“We’re lucky to get ones like Antoni Sarcevic who has done that and is used to expectation.

“It is a big factor. But if there’s a player we think is really good but he’s only played in front of 2,000 at Barrow or Salford, that wouldn’t be a reason to say no to them.

“Sometimes players have the character to absolutely embrace it.

“Look at Calum Kavanagh, he’s loving it and feeding off it.

“Don’t get me wrong, some players would melt and hide. But if you get more players, like Calum, who don’t, then you’ve got to use it to your advantage.”

TOMORROW: David Sharpe discusses his relationship with Ryan Sparks and the battles they have faced as the youngest CEOs.