Kyle Nix will refuse City’s offer to come back for pre-season.

Stuart McCall released the midfielder last week, although the Valley Parade door was left ajar with an invitation to return for training in July if he failed to find another club before then.

But dejected Nix has made it clear that he will not be taking it up.

He said: “Thanks but no thanks. It would feel a bit belittling, to be honest, to do that after being here for two years already.

“I don’t think I need to prove myself again after playing 65 games for the club.

“They’ve made a decision about me, and that’s fair enough, so I can’t see how the situation would change.”

Nix finished City’s second-top scorer in his debut year with eight goals from 44 appearances but he played less than half that second time around following the arrival of Paul McLaren, Nicky Law and Dean Furman.

He made his first start in four months for the final home game but was back on the bench last week against Chesterfield. Nix admitted he was bracing himself for bad news over a contract.

“I haven’t been involved this season so I went in there not expecting anything,” he said.

“I obviously haven’t been part of the plans for the season just gone, so I didn’t expect to be part of the future.

“But I’m still gutted about it. They want young, hungry players for the club next season and they are letting me go.

“Having come through a Premier League academy and then dropped out completely, I know what it’s like to go out of the game. That’s what makes me hungry.

“I gave two years of my all and nobody knows that more than the gaffer and Jakes (Wayne Jacobs). I feel I’ve always shown the right attitude and never thrown the towel in.

“You’re not going to be every fan’s cup of tea but hopefully they could see what it meant to me. But I know the decision is not just down to the gaffer and the people above may not rate me. That’s football.”

Nix was rescued from non-league football two years ago by McCall. He initially survived on monthly deals before establishing himself in the squad.

Nix said: “I’m really grateful to the gaffer for giving me the opportunity in the first place. I was without a club and he brought me back into league football and I owe a lot to him for that.

“The fans have always been good to me and it’s nice to know that so many were still behind me and wanted me to stay. Unfortunately the decision wasn’t down to them.

“But it was special to get such a great reception for my last game at Valley Parade. Playing in front of 13,000 against Rotherham, my home-town club, and getting clapped off like that by the fans was brilliant.

“I wish Bradford all the best and I thank them for giving me another chance. I just felt I had more to offer.”