City have been urged to build their future around James Hanson and not think about cashing in on him.

Phil Parkinson has got Hanson playing his best football since his debut year in the league. That form is attracting inevitable rumours of other clubs sniffing round.

Stuart McCall wanted to re-sign him for Motherwell last season and Southend are thought to be monitoring Hanson’s progress.

City are in the box seat because he still has two more years on his contract to run after this one. But club legend John Hendrie, who has mentored the big striker, hopes they will resist any temptation to sell.

Hendrie said: “I know Stuart would have taken him up the road last summer. He signed Omar Daley and wanted to have James as well but couldn’t afford him.

“James is on the ascendancy again after a dip in form last season and there will be scouts watching if it carries on. But I’d like to think Bradford will hang on to him.

“There’s no reason James can’t be a key part of a promotion-pushing side here either next year or the year after. Bradford will do as well as James Hanson does and vice versa.”

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