Drury leaves Bradford City for Manchester United academy

Drury, who last season led City’s under-19s side to a first EFL Youth Alliance league title in almost a decade, will depart after seven years at the club.

He also served as assistant to several previous first-team bosses as well as taking charge of the youth team. He will join the Premier League outfit’s category-one academy in a lead coach position.

Drury said: “I would like to start by saying how grateful I am for the opportunities I have been provided here, over the past seven years, and thank everyone past and present who I have had the pleasure of working with.

“I have met some great people and built strong relationships which I am confident will last a long time. To say it was a difficult decision to leave this club would be an understatement.

“This is a really forward-thinking academy with an array of talented and humble young players being guided by good people who understand the values of the club, and what it takes to represent Bradford City.”

The former Bradford (Park Avenue) manager experienced some real highs and lows at the club.

Promoted to the senior coaching set-up by Edin Rahic in 2018, he was involved in City’s relegation from League One that season.

Drury was assistant to Michael Collins, David Hopkin and Gary Bowyer before reverting back to an academy role where he has flourished. He insists the club he is leaving now is in a far better place than before.

“Away from the grass, this is the best working environment I have seen at the club since my time here began, and there are lots of people to thank for that.

“Ryan Sparks deserves huge credit. He has really shown how passionate he is about improvement. He and everyone else behind the scenes are dong a great job in moving the club forward.

“It is really bitter-sweet to be moving on at a time where the club has a great chance of achieving success this season. A great culture has been set, and the club is certainly moving in the right direction.

“From a personal perspective, I am humbled to have been offered a new and exciting opportunity to progress at Manchester United.

“I would like to personally thank academy manager Neil Matthews, specifically.

Martin Drury was City's number two during the 2018-2019 relegation season

“Neil has offered me fantastic support over a number of years, always showing a belief in me and making me feel valued.

“Over the past 18 months, he has provided me with the platform to lead and express myself - both as a coach and a man. I feel I have been able to be authentic and this has drawn the best from me.

“Neil is a wonderfully calm man in and amongst the chaos of football, who has become a friend as well as a professional colleague. I am sure our relationship will continue for many years to come.”

Academy boss Matthews admitted it will be a blow to see Drury move on.

City’s academy manager, Neil Matthews, said: “While it is disappointing for the academy to see He said: “We have developed a great relationship over the past few years, and I have been able to place my trust in him to deliver a quality coaching environment within our academy.

“He has done a first-class job and left a very good impression on all those who have worked with him.

“Martin, as he will admit himself, has really evolved over the past few years. He has continued to develop in many ways - in a number of different challenges and environments - not just coaching on the field, but also off the pitch in the way he is with everyone.

“He has an awful lot to offer, and I am sure he will make a success of his new role. He has always wanted to learn and better himself for the benefit of everyone.

“Last season went particularly well, with the success of the under-19s team and the number of players he helped secure professional contracts, and he leaves the club on a really positive note.”

City chief executive Ryan Sparks added: “It is fair to say Martin leaves our academy in a far better place than he found it and has contributed significantly towards its growth and development over the past few years.”