City joint-chairman Mark Lawn last night remained hopeful that Peter Taylor would not be leaving for Newcastle United.

The Bantams’ 1-0 victory over Bury yesterday was overshadowed by rumours that the City boss was set to join the Magpies management team.

Lawn confirmed that Taylor had spoken to the Premier League club with a view to becoming Alan Pardew’s assistant but insisted the City chief had turned down an offer.

Lawn said: “They (Newcastle) contacted us at the turn of the year.

“We agreed compensation and allowed them to speak to Peter. Peter turned down the offer.”

It remains to be seen whether Newcastle come back with another offer, however, with Lawn saying: “Peter Taylor is Bradford City manager and I don’t want to lose him. He is doing a good job as far as I’m concerned. But we can’t stand in his way if a Premier League club wants to talk to him.”

Taylor admitted after the game that “there might be something in it” when asked about the rumour but would not be drawn any further, other than to say: “I will discuss that with the correct people.”

With two wins out of two in 2011 and City just three points off the play-offs, Lawn remained hopeful Taylor would remain in his post.

The joint chairman added: “As far as I am concerned, he has turned it (an offer) down. I don’t expect things to change. I don’t know whether they will approach him again.”

Taylor had been a target for Newcastle back in 2008 when Dennis Wise was reportedly interested in him becoming director of the club’s academy.

Meanwhile, City are hoping to keep their four remaining loan players for longer.

Tom Adeyemi, Jason Price, Richard Eckersley and Rob Kiernan all played key roles in helping the Bantams do the double over the Shakers to put them in tenth place, thanks to Omar Daley’s stunning volley on the stroke of half-time.

Taylor said: “We’ll be talking to them to try and keep them.”