Bradford woke up to a thick blanket of fog on Wednesday morning.
Valley Parade had disappeared into the ether.
Not the most inviting way to turn up for your first day in a new job.
But Peter Taylor arrived with a clear vision.
Plenty of work to be done, plenty of points to play for. Time is of the essence and nothing will be allowed to cloud his intentions.
City fans have been impressed by Taylor’s appointment. His promotion record, particularly in this division, speaks for itself.
He has taken up three different clubs from the basement. If anyone has got the Midas touch at this level, then surely the Bantams have found the one.
But there will always be some left disappointed.
Notts County, for one, who looked for so long to be his next managerial destination.
Nigeria, too, had mentioned his name in dispatches to take over their national team.
Even Al Jazeera, the Arab satellite channel, who have now lost a regular Saturday afternoon summariser from their Premier League coverage.
Taylor has always been in demand.
He was due in the studio for TV duty tomorrow. Instead he will be prowling the cramped touchline of the Crown Ground to see his new charges in action for the first time at Accrington.
The surroundings won’t bother him in the slightest. Taylor’s weighty CV proves he is not concerned about getting his hands dirty at any level of the game.
It would hardly have been a more luxurious afternoon if things had been different. Notts County are at Aldershot today.
Remember the gloating from the Meadow Lane fans on the opening day of the season? The love-in with Sven and the taunts at “little” Bradford as the goals crashed in?
How times change. Now it’s County giving their reluctant caretaker boss the job for the rest of the season while City unveil their man.
Taylor had declared an interest in the Magpie post soon after being axed by Wycombe. In League Two circles, he looked a shoo-in.
But circumstances are very different now.
Notts County are scratching behind their sofas for the odd bit of change to the tune of £2.5m to keep trading beyond the summer.
City, meanwhile, hope to enjoy the fruits of Taylor’s labours, at least for the next 18 games.
The “suck it and see” three-month deal is seen by some as flawed. Naturally there is a fear that, come the end of May, City will be back to square one again at a time when the bulk of the dressing room are out of contract.
But it does give both sides a good chance to suss each other out and see if they can work together longer term.
Taylor may be tied to his Essex roots but he is quite prepared to hop around if work suits. Only Hull, where he seriously made his name with back-to-back promotions, have kept him for more than 18 months.
If he’s happy with how it pans out then expect a proper commitment in the summer. If not, the path is clear for both to look at alternatives without any messy parting.
There is still plenty of interest in the Valley Parade hot-seat and that won’t change just because someone is now in situ.
A couple of in-form lower-division managers currently in work have already let it be known that they would be keen on an interview. The door remains ajar.
But Taylor’s presence on the training ground has breathed new life into a season that had gone stagnant. He will not be afraid of delivering that well-placed size ten boot that Michael Flynn has been demanding.
The play-offs may be out of reach, barring an epic charge, but City just want to see a measure of improvement and hope for the future – whoever is leading them.
It is time for some blue-sky thinking to clear the depression.
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