 brought to you by DIS keeping companies connected with cloud-based solutions. Come on! Happy New Year as well. It's been a bit of a while since we last spoke. How have you spent the extended break? What have you been up to? Happy New Year first of all. We've just been again, obviously it's a busy month, obviously with recruitment etc and trying to balance off the work between the players obviously on the field and also the recruitment part, so again really busy at the minute. How have you found that balance and which has taken precedent? I think you've just got to extend what you're already doing, so if you're working a certain amount of hours you've just got to up it to make sure that you're not losing out on any, so you're putting everything to buff. Let's start on the recruitment side of things first and foremost. How is work going on behind the scenes? Really good. We're pleased with how things are going so far. It's not as straightforward as everybody thinks potentially but we're in advanced talks with some players and hoping to get them through the door. Is it right to assume that a goalkeeper is a priority given the injury to Richard O'Donnell? Yeah, of course. We're looking to get a goalkeeper in for Saturday's game, all being well. And just on Richard's injury as well, just how big a blow is that to lose not only your number one but your captain as well? Yeah, obviously Richard is a massive person for the club and for his teammates and for other staff and for him to lose obviously himself with injury at the minute and not be able to play games. It's not nice for him. We don't want anyone to get injured but football is like that. He's got to focus on his recovery, support the boys, support the lads and also it's an opportunity for Sam to prove himself and thought he was good last game, obviously kept a clean sheet so he's got to remain positive and keep on trying to get clean sheets and perform well. In terms of the goalkeeper that you hope to bring in before the weekend, are you expecting this goalkeeper to be a backup to Sam or will it be a number one replacement? Who's going to be taking the gloves? I think for us at the minute Sam is going to be number one and I think he deserves that opportunity and that chance and we're going to bring somebody in who's going to also help push Sam on as well. You mentioned that you were close to stealing some of your targets that you'll have identified already. It's been widely reported that you've been in for Jordan Stevens of Leading Eye. So is that someone that you're monitoring? Jordan is somebody that we're aware of and obviously he's been at Leeds for a few years now and we've watched him over, you know, watching their 23s and obviously he's at Swindon as well so he's definitely a player that we rate. Is that an area of the field more widely that you're looking at, Conor, to strengthen? Yeah, I think, again, I spoke about the last interview and we were talking about strengthening if that's from the starting lineup or some impact players. I definitely think that we've got areas to improve and wide, especially impact players and different types of wingers are something that we are looking to invest in. How much are you learning about the recruitment side of things and how much of a help has Lee been so far? Yeah, myself and Mark are learning. Lee's been fantastic as well as other people in the building and working hard to make sure that these players are identifying the right ones for the club and the strategy to make that happen is key and we're happy where we are right now and we're looking to move forward and get them off the line. In terms of outgoing to Conor, do you expect anyone to leave the club in this window? I think it's like any club, say it before, you know, people come in, people come out why no different, we'll see what happens. I'm not going to say anything about that but it does happen in football and why no different. I wanted to ask you about, if I may, Austin Samuels. He's got one appearance under your 10-year with yourself and Mark. What is his future at the football club? Are you happy to keep hold of him? Obviously monitoring, Austin is coming on loan. Obviously a young player and we're monitoring how he does and obviously go from there and obviously we've got a good relationship with Wolves and we've got to make sure that what happens next is right for us. Obviously we've got met the decisions as well as Wolves as well so we'll work together on what's best for Austin. Is your dad in your ear about him at all? I'm not sponsoring for a week or so now so I've not spoken quite in recently. Just away from the January window, some great news to come through from the football club in respect to the zero positive cases in the latest round of COVID testing. Huge credit, huge testament to everyone that's been involved in achieving that. Just how pleasing is it for you as joint manager to see those numbers come through and how much does it just alleviate any forms of anxiety that you may have had about any potential COVID outbreak? Yeah, like I said, I think it's brilliant for everybody involved. Paula, Ryan, everyone who works hard, the physios and the protocols in the building I think it just allows us to feel more safe in our workplace and also for our sacrifices that we are making around the building that they're actually paying off so as a club we're proud of the results and I think it just coup d'os to those that have worked hard to make it happen. Yeah, quite right. It feels like every time we speak the picture continues to get worse, the numbers are heightening, the situation is becoming more severe. How much you having to be cohere with those numbers in terms of how much you talk about COVID and how much you talk about the regulations and the protocols that need to be fulfilled? Yeah, I think first of all, everybody in the building has been fantastic. As soon as you say something that needs doing, they do it to their best ability and if that's, you know, they can't go in a certain part of the training ground, they'll listen to you and they'll make sure that they'll get off early or make sure that everything's in place for us or the minute it's difficult because the players have got to leave earlier than they would normally just to stop that infection rate if it was to happen. Also it's been introduced twice weekly testing and we spoke to Anthony O'Connor about it, not so long ago. Just how big an aid is that going to be for you and how much assurance does it give you as a side that you're going to have regular testing at? Yeah, it's massive for us. I think it's been maybe, I'm not sure how many months, before we were in charge they were tested but again for us it's our first time and to have that clarity of, you know, you're not positive and you haven't got coronavirus is a big relief so I think the safety that it adds for us to be tested so often is huge. What do you thoughts on the season as a whole? There's been a lot of talk about circuit breakers coming in, maybe a four-week period of a layoff. I think I'm right in saying that Middlesbrough have just reported an outbreak at their training facility. We don't know the full extent of the numbers to come back from the Massey FL testing but do you fear or do you feel that a pause in the season may come? I think you've got to be prepared for it and you've got to have a contingency plan if it does happen and try and protect everybody and not going surprised if there's an outbreak, if somebody else or another team that you're playing have got an outbreak. So I think we've just got to be well prepared and make sure that if it does happen to us or another club that we can move on and get through it. My opinion would be obviously we just want the games to happen and for the season to be fluid and to carry on but again they'll be hurdles along the way and obstacles and why no different. We'll of course have to jump over one of those recently with the Suspension to the Walkham game. It's given you a bit of extended time between the last game and the one coming this Saturday. How has preparation been in that time? Have you had the opportunity to get on the training field and really spend some time with the players now? Yes, we've had a good start to the week and again it's just important for us to build on already what we've been doing and the players are performing well in their attitude spot on so long makes continuing and we're looking forward to setting this game. What's it allowed you to do with the players? What have you been able to work on with them specifically? I think as coaches, as managers, your job is to get players better, condition them and why they're different. We're going out there, we're working on things that are going to make the team better, that are going to make the individuals better and so being working hard on the planning to make sure that everything's smooth. What do you make of school football then? It'll be a big game for you given the lead position? Yes, massive game and again we're looking forward to it and just looking to remain unbeaten and see where we go with it but again we're confident that we can go and get a result there. Given the lead position, is there an added importance on the game or are you just going to tell me that it's like any other one? Yes, I think that's the best answer really. I think again we just go again and try and perform and make sure that the things that we can control are controlled and we go for the win. Who's going to be your captain? Well obviously last game that you saw, Lee was captain so we're looking to carry that on. So can we expect to see Lee take the armband in the period that Richard's going to be out for? Yes, I believe so. We've had a conversation obviously when Richard got injured about who we felt was next to his vice captain if you like because obviously Richard played a lot of games and we felt that lead with his experience and the way that he carries himself and helps the others that he was a perfect person for that. When you say we, was that a collective decision between yourself and Mark? Yes, you know I consulted other people as well and what happened before and we just tried to gather as much information as possible and make sure that we made the right decision. Talking about form, talking about the men's and talking about the results that you've had recently of course it's given you a better picture of the table but still you're within that mix at the bottom with how the results have gone elsewhere as well. How wary do you still have to be of the relegation zone? Of course, you know I think it's so tight from mid-table to the bottom, points are crucial and we've got to just keep on picking points up and working hard to our goals and it's like any other team around this area you've got to try and pull away from the relegation zone and make sure that you're performing. Final one for me, Podder, speaking to Connor Wood mid-week and one thing that came of course was his contract situation at the football club that he's out of deal in the summer and he's very open to starting discussions when can you as a football club start having those contract discussions with players like Connor and others as well? Yeah, obviously the window with January it's a very busy time as a club we're looking to get through this crucial window and then start talking about contract renewals with the players after that. Is Connor a player that you're keen to keep a hold of? I think Connor's been a great player over the last two, three years that he's been here and he's got to just keep focusing on his performances and not letting the contracts renewal getting damp so he's got to perform as well. And finally, just how big a factor is the salary cap in all these occasions and all these discussions that you have to, how much do you have to monitor that as well with the recruitment side of things? Yeah, he's a part of the lead two now, part of the lead one of the salary cap and we're no different we've got to make sure that we plan ahead anybody that we're getting or somebody that has to leave potentially we have to weigh it all up and make sure that we're in the right position at the end of it. Cheers Connor. Thank you, cheers. Talking about recruitment, do you think that loads as well as purple appeals? Yeah, I think we're no different I think there's people out there who we've got available loans at the minute obviously we've got Bryce so we have got possibilities to bring loans in yet. Back to Covid, one thing that hasn't really been mentioned is a big part of the football team is the social aspect of team building which of course players haven't been able to do very little of it now they can't do it at all how much does that then fall on the lights of your mark to build that team spirit although Bradford does have a good one? Yeah, I think like you say it's a one that's common and everybody's finding the same the same problem that the plays out in the building for as long and that potential, that cohesion is maybe lost. I think the guys here have got a great relationship with each other you can see it in the building when they're out training and we've got to be mindful and open to make sure that why not interfering too much and we're still allowing them to have those relationships if it's an extra 10 minutes where they're on the pitch at the end at training where they can socialise a little bit more but again we've got to stick to guidelines and make sure that we're protecting the players as well. We have seen over the Christmas period several high profile players breaking code in regulations is that something you reiterate to the players all the time particularly the young ones where they're naturally going to want to go out and mix with each other? Yeah, I think we can control what happens here and hopefully we're looking at the players to be professional enough when they do go home and they're travelling home and they're abiding like everybody else. Cheers, good luck on Saturday. Thank you very much. Thanks Conor, obviously about having these twice weekly tests coming in now I mean, hopefully that will help presumably reassure players as well won't it because obviously you switch on Sky Sports News and there's always another team who've got a problem and other players it's become such a regular thing that it must be mentally quite unnerving at times. Yeah, I think, like you say, it's for yourself to have that in second. Sorry. Like you say, just for your own peace of mind for the players to have that safety of knowing if they're positive or negative it's huge, so it's ideal that they're having these tests. Who does put the club so far in a very good light, doesn't it? Because the protocols you've had literally from the first day of pre-season I mean, you've seen high profile champions I don't know a lot of problems and here's to you this week at a full, full, clean bill of health, doesn't it? Yeah, I think it gives everybody confidence and again, just everybody the club has been fantastic to make sure it's been a safe place to work and we've been told what we need to do and we've been implementing that in the best way possible and that makes everyone feel safe and it's allowed us to have a zero on the tests. Magnificent. And presumably it encourages them to keep going because I know it's a pretty alien environment this season and it seems very weird to compare the normal football seasons but if the players can see it's working presumably it's a great encouragement just carry on as you are. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So they've just got to keep performing and continuing to the guidelines and keep looking to win on a Saturday or a Tuesday whenever that is. And in terms obviously of the form you've had a nice little break now I mean, is this sort of like part two of the season now you sort of draw a line on what you've achieved so far I said, right, we've got a big game on Saturday we've now got a bit more of a gap between matches and this is almost like a new start sort of thing. I'd say just to build obviously the foundations have been there from me and Mark and what we wanted and the players have been fantastic so we're just looking to build game by game again and just get better at what we do and hopefully their messages are more clear and it provides more clarity for the players and they just can just get on with it. And in terms of obviously the window you said about encouraging so far I mean, are you where you hope to be at this stage because although it's been sort of there's been a lot of preparation going into what you want to do in January I mean in terms of who you spoke to what offers or what encouragement have you made I mean, are you sort of quite a comfortable position at the moment? Yeah, I would say so I would say we're in a comfortable position as you know the transfer window it moves quickly people become available, unavailable so again you've got to be planning ahead and make sure that you're identifying the right targets but you also got backups just in case things don't work out. Normally, you know, business it's like literally the first week in January it's quite unusual for deals to be done at this stage anyway it tends to be a case of always doing the groundwork and just putting the RDRs in for a bit of a fright isn't it? Yeah, you're quite right there's not as much movement early on you probably start to see see it as we get past the maybe a week, two week barrier and then deals will start to open up but again we want the deals that were the plays that were after we wanted them as soon as we can but we're also wise enough to know that that's not always the case I was going to ask you both quickly about Sam obviously he's waited a long time for his chance he's got a few little bits here and there I mean when you've been a backup keeper for a long time it's a different challenge now in mentality that you're now in but it comes to the number one Yeah, of course again when Sam was training when Rick Trosford was doing really well he was impressing so for him it's a fantastic opportunity and we believe that he is good enough to step in so we're eager to see how that lies for him and I think he can just take confidence from the last game and like you say it's a different mentality being a number one and he's got to quickly learn about it and he's got to perform at the end of the day there's potentially a big opportunity for him isn't it because it's almost like an audition and Sam he's got a decent amount of games coming up while Richard's recovering and the opportunity's there isn't it? Yeah 100% and if he's performing really well and again we're keeping clean sheets and not conceding as many goals it's based on performances so there's an opportunity like any keeper that comes in a second choice there's an opportunity to reverse it and that's not out the window Presumably from his own confidence being told that this is your opportunity but the club is rushing out to get someone perhaps a bit more senior to come straight in that should make him feel good Yeah and I think that's important I think with Sam and where he is at the minute if we felt that he wasn't able to come his first choice then we're probably having different discussions and looking at potential different players to come in the goalkeeper's coming so I think he can take confidence from the club's decision And he's left footed as well which helps from the backboard isn't it? Yeah left footed yeah he strikes the ball really well so he's got some really good attributes he and Rich aren't identical even though they're both left footed you know they're both really good keepers Best of luck tomorrow night Thank you very much Connor you talk about the changing mindset for Sam has there been any feet that you have marked as you've gone from much to much caretakers to interim is it able to change your thinking in any way? Not really I think the only things that it affects is the long term planning that's the biggest one other than that I think the coaching and what we're delivering and how we're trying to get the players to play is identical so it would just be the planning ahead and basically being the managers so I think that's key for us to just go on and keep trying to improve the team and improve the individuals and that's what we're trying to do and to be trusted by Ryan too to have you imprint on this transfer window does that mean a lot to you? Yeah I think we're related with the position that we're in and again we're talking about Sam getting an opportunity a second choice and rightfully so and it's no different for people who are giving opportunities in different disciplines and you know as a manager me and Mark we're confident that we can help the players and let's see what happens it's been a good start and again we're mindful of it's not all going to be playing sailing and we'll see what happens from there Has it made it more enjoyable this week that you've actually been able to do some proper training ground work with the players rather than the sort of more rushed analysis and not so much work on the grass with them? I'd probably say it's been a little bit more relaxed from a staff point of view there's a lot of work that goes into preparing the games like we've said before and so from a training point of view it's been relaxed in terms of having more time with the players but again the planning for the sessions is still it's still relentless there's more work for me and Mark to do at the minute because there's more sessions which take a lot of your time Obviously you're probably still finding things out about our punishments at the moment but is coaching a bit of it that you most enjoy? Yeah I think me and Mark got into coaching because we love football and we want to help develop people and players so again on the grass is probably where we're at our most natural Have you been pleased with the receptiveness of the lads to take your ideas on the ball? Yeah the guys have been superb they have high standards and high expectations of themselves and we'll match them and even go further to make sure that they're training to get better not just training to pass time Maybe this is one to ask you again at the end of the month but how is dealing in the transfer market being it seems for a lot of managers it could be a real stressful and distracting situation how have you found it? Yeah I quite enjoy the recruitment side of it you know it's a part of that as a manager and for me and Mark we've got to be crystal clear where we see the club going and what we want to add to the team so from our point of view it's been enjoyable trying to with Lee and staff identify the right players and we feel they're going to help the team so yeah it's been enjoyable And just on Lee's note obviously Stuart didn't really have the benefit of him for the last 11 games so how fortunate have you been to actually have Lee's experience and Lee's abilities available to you? Yeah of course we all know Lee's capabilities his experiences obviously was injured for a period of time before we came in so we're thankful that he is back in the team and we've had to monitor and manage his workload at times to make sure that he's able to play the games but again his attitude and commitment has been top draw And different managers are different but how much have you lent on the likes of Lee and your other experience players in terms of bouncing ideas off them and that sort of thing? Yeah I think it's important that you've got that rapport with the players and the experienced players the ones who potentially we do talk to at times just to see what they've done in the past how the lads are, how he's come and I think in conversations they appreciate them as well but again we've got to make the right decisions for the club Sorry Colin just one last one just get the call at the wrong time I suppose that challenge of what you were saying about Sam in terms of making people feel appreciated is that an important part of your role where everyone feels that they're a part of something and they're not just being told what to do or what to do I think it's kind of a balance you want the players to have responsibilities for their actions and for what they do but we're also in a place where if it's the right time and we feel that the players need to have more responsibility of a team, a point of view then we'll make that happen but ultimately we've got to make sure that we're managing the players in the right way so it's kind of a balance and knowing when to use which style really That's great, thanks very much and good luck with the weekend Thank you very much Come on