Uncertainty over Peter Taylor’s position dominated the build-up to City’s trip to Barnet in October.

Saturday's Valley Parade meeting has been overshadowed in recent days by the talk of Taylor and Newcastle.

It seems that some things never change.

But Taylor insists the sideshow about his own future will not deter the team’s preparations ahead of the return fixture with the London club.

He said: “They’re gutted I’m staying, absolutely gutted! But no, I haven’t mentioned anything to them.

“Players read the papers, they listen to the radio and they know I’m staying. It’s simple as that.

“To me it’s finished now and we just get on with it. All I’m looking forward to is Barnet.

“It’s a case of concentrating on us getting a third win in a row for the first time this season.

“There’s been some very nice e-mails coming in from season-ticket holders which is lovely and I really do appreciate that.

“But I’ve never left a football club in the season unless I’ve been sacked and I didn’t particularly want to do that now.

“I’ve come here to achieve something I’d love to do and I’m still on course.”

Barnet slipped to the foot of League Two after Monday’s 4-2 loss at Stevenage, their fifth in six games.

Boss Mark Stimson was sacked following a defeat to Aldershot on New Year’s Day and old head Paul Fairclough is once again in temporary charge.

He has already begun changing personnel at the Bees, snapping up England under-19 goalkeeper Liam O’Brien today and is likely to throw him straight in against the Bantams.

Centre half Grant Basey, who scored an embarrassing own goal in the Stevenage defeat, has also had his contract terminated with immediate effect.

The home side will start firm favourites but Taylor will make sure complacency does not creep in.

“As Hereford proved to us, they came here and didn’t look a bottom-of-the-table team.

“That’s what the players have got to be very aware of.

“But I took a lot of positives out of Monday. If we carry on the way we performed second half then we can go on and win the match.

“The players in the changing room for the last two games can be really pleased with themselves. I think they’ve built up a nice bit of confidence.”