 Brought to you by DIS, keeping companies connected with cloud-based solutions. Come on, City! Stuart, good to speak with you again. Can I start by asking for an update on Reece Thornton's injury? You certainly can, yeah. I'm very positive news, which is great news to be honest. Obviously last Saturday we were feeling the worst. Reece saying he'd heard a crack, et cetera, et cetera, and limping off. Got him scanned on Monday. Results back Tuesday, which was no crack. A little bit of flare up of the joint, but should settle down quickly. And it certainly has. So he's done a bit of training today, which has been promising. We'll see how he reacts tomorrow and make a decision on him for the weekend, but far more encouraging news than we expected. So, yeah, that's a positive. So, was good news that he could actually potentially be available for this weekend? Yeah, yeah, I think he could. I'm not saying he will, and because obviously we have to see he hasn't been a great deal today, but what he's done is felt comfortable. Now he might have a reaction overnight, but we don't think so. So there's a possibility, yeah. That's positive news. Do you have anything else to report on that front? No, obviously, you know, the two of Connors are out, suspended, but we do get Levi Sutton back involved with us now. He's been desperate to be playing. He's now free of suspension. Ben Ritchie's Everton is trained all week. He's over his bout of illness. So it's really two out, two in, you know, poor thing Anthony out. Ben and Levi in. And hopefully, Rhys will win. Sorry. Sorry, I didn't catch your knee. And hopefully, Rhys will win as well. So, you know, it's like two out, two in. Yeah, yeah. How do you get about defensively with the fact that both poor the knee and Anthony are out and Rhys will win? Yeah, we've had a look at a couple of things during the week. There's a few options. Obviously Levi can play at Rybak. You know, Tyler French is a centre half, is it his normal position, you know, which he came to the club as. And obviously the two young lads, Cousin Dawson and Joseph Cora are both centre halves as well. So we've got options. And Lee Novak, obviously. Sorry, the connection's, I think he's doing me a bit there. Sorry, Jamie, that was me. I was just throwing it later when I was in. And obviously you can't discount Lee Novak. Of course. Well, that was going to be my next question, you know, his admiral performance. But that was tongue-in-cheek. I know, I know, that was too. In a serious note though, having Levi Sutton back available for you, how big a boost is that? It is, yeah, I think, you know, he showed in the one-gaming man he's to have at Doncaster. He's enthusiasm and he gets around the pitch, you know, well, infectious nature. And he's certainly been training well while he's been, you know, not being able to be selected. So, yeah, he's good to have him back. And he's, you know, he's been working hard. And it's hard when you work all week knowing that you've not got a game at the Saturday to look forward to. But, you know, he's been in on the Saturday mornings and training. And he's, as I said, he's a good type. He's got a great attitude to the game. He just wants to do well for the club. So I've no worries wherever I play him. You know, I've had him at right wing back, right back, centre mid, holding mid, attacking mid. So, you know, I know what I'm going to get from leaving. Yeah, so just on that point of recruitment, Stuart, what's the latest? Yeah, frustrating early part of the week. You know, we were hoping to get some definits from a couple of clubs. But, you know, as they told us last week they were going to make the minds of this week. Then they put it back a few more days. So really frustrating, you know, from Sunday onwards, really, we were hoping to get a couple of bodies in. But as I said before, you know, we can't really push clubs above us. All we can do is move on if that's the case. But we just, you know, it'd be more promising from, say, Wednesday, had a few feedback on Wednesday. And we're hopeful of bringing somebody in tomorrow that should be or hopefully be available for Saturday's game. And waiting this afternoon for another couple of people to come back to us with a yes or a no, basically. Just on those disappointments or ones that have been delayed or pushed back a week, and presumably then just from what you're saying there is you're approaching clubs above lead to, I mean, are you going to the Championship Premier League and is this in respect to the loan market or permanent silence? Yeah, no, the loan market, you know, from clubs that we've been in contact with all summer really, since we've been back. With players that we've targeted, that we've been told will be allowed out on loan, whatever level. And then we've, you know, some clubs spring players in and let players out, other clubs don't let them players out as quick as they can. Some clubs want other players to leave their football club and not the ones we're after. But if the other clubs can't get away or get out of the other players, then they have to release them. So it's a waiting seat, but you can only wait so long. You know that. But if you want to try to get the target you would like, you know, I would, you know, an ideal world would have them in the building now, but if we can't do that, I would rather wait a little bit longer and get the ones that we would like than just bringing bodies in for the sake of it. It's frustrating for myself, it's frustrating and I understand for the supporters, for everyone, but you know, that's how it is at the minute. We're getting told the decisions are going to be made, it keeps getting put back off, so you can imagine the frustration from my point of view and the staff's point of view, but listen, we'll deal with whatever we've got and as I said, hopeful we can have Sunday in for tomorrow and be available for Saturday and hopeful, you know, in the next couple of days, but nothing concrete has yet. Yeah, just on this hopeful player for tomorrow, do they fit within the loan market or is this a hopeful permanent signing and how much can you tell us about where his player, his position on the field? He'll definitely be on a park somewhere, but I cannot give you his position because he actually plays a few positions to be honest, but no, listen, you'll know as soon as we know, as soon as it's all done, you'll know, so I don't like to talk about things that I've done on the horizon and then somebody else might pop up and it looks up and telling lies about a different position, but no, we're confident hopeful of getting one done and then, you know, hopefully, some word that hopefully I use it a lot, but hopefully getting other things tied up in it as the next week progresses. I appreciate the update on that, Stuart. Just on, in respect to Tuesday's news, I wanted to ask you about that, the shelving of plans to have fans back in the grounds early next month. What was your thoughts and reactions to that? Now that there's done, what's happened? Reaction from different people, isn't it, as well? From the owners, from the finances of the club, which my immediate thoughts don't go to my immediate thoughts for the supporters and for the players and for us, because as players and staff, we want to be running out in front of supporters. Even, obviously, they're all forage green supporters last week. It was nice just to have looking out. Well, I think that's the most, the thing I miss most of going to my home games down Valley Parade is driving to the stadium, people selling the scarves and, you know, people queuing up at 1 o'clock for the get-parking near the stadium and, you know, all that. The buzz of the game, the atmosphere that you're building up to kick off seeing people coming out of the pubs and looking forward to setting this up, you know, into time and so that part, from my point of view, would disappoint for the fans. But then again, a bigger thought is obviously for the finances of football clubs and since Tuesday, you know, you've seen a lot of chairman and owners coming out saying there will be a lot of clubs that will go to the wall unless the government can come up with an arrangement where we can get some sort of numbers of fans getting back into the grounds. But, you know, obviously, the spike starting to rise again with the obviously COVID-19. So we're all mindful, certainly as a squad and as a staff, of following the rules, which we all got to do naturally. But it was a blow. But I don't necessarily think, or hopefully it's not, oh, everyone thinks it's going to be six months. I don't think that's the case. I think the case is, you know, it's not going to be the October 1st or October 6th or 10th, you know, start that we were all hoping for. But likewise, it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be six months. So we're hopeful that, you know, oops, that somebody's just cleaned me out. Okay, spin. We're hopeful that it's not going to be a long term. We understand this short term, but, you know, as I said, Saturday seems to go really, really well down at Forest Green, other than those getting changed in a part of the stand and just piping the music through it at halftime, but other than that, it's just going to see support in the ground. How distracting is that from a playing group's perspective and as the manager of that group, how much do you have to try to manage their emotions around it all? What about not getting players back in, fans? Yeah, yeah. Well, listen, they've got used to it now. So hopefully another month won't harm, but we're all looking forward to, you know, to getting our own supporters back and, you know, a little bit of noise, a little bit of reaction, just to get behind the lad to a stage in the game at Forest Green, where even though there was only a thousand in, you know, at least there was an atmosphere. You know, they had maybe a corner or our sendings off. There was a bit of vibrancy in the stadium. So, you know, to have it for one game and then not, but listen, it's just where we are as a country at this moment in time and how they, you know, what the things we have to face, we have to do. But hopefully we can get back on track again soon. You mentioned the financial side of things, that this obviously implicates as well. And you mentioned the government. I wanted to ask you about what you felt the financial resolve was for this situation. Should responsibility lie with the government? Should the Premier League step up some more? What are your thoughts on that? Listen, I know obviously the eye for law has been a little bit of a help to some clubs where it's nothing like. I mean, having said that, I mean, what we sold over 9,000 season tickets, which is, you know, fantastic gesture from the supporters to be buying season tickets. Hopefully football is going to come back, but not being a definite to get back into the ground. And all the hard work that's going on behind the scenes, especially hard place with the claret and the amber season tickets and things like that. But yeah, I think there will be meetings certainly if they've not already been taken, which I know the EFL have had discussions. I've had a couple of emails from people there outlining what might happen, but nothing concrete. But yeah, we'll be hopeful there'll be some sort of help because if there isn't by the sounds of it at other clubs and listening to other chairman, then, you know, there's a lot of football clubs that are going to struggle to keep paying the wages and survive, basically, because it was all right when we weren't playing and we were getting people being furloughed, but now we're obviously out of furlough. Still no money coming into the club or match days anyway. So, yeah, I don't know. I don't know the answer, but I know there's a lot of discussions going on. Just on that point, finally, how then concerned are you about the future of football, more generally and also the sustainability of Bradford City speaking to Ryan yesterday? He said in the hypothetical sense it discontinues as it does for the majority of the season, for the whole of the season, that it will be a real challenge for Bradford City to survive, so how concerned are you as a manager for football club? Naturally, you know, concerning, I saw Ryan's words yesterday, but I think we're, we're obviously okay at the moment. We've kept, you know, well in within the remit of the spend that we've got to spend. But, you know, and again, it's the national league, the one below us, we're hoping to get back, can only get back if they get fans in the ground, let's put them back again. So, yeah, it's challenging, there's no doubt about that, but I'll focus fully on the football at moment while it's still going on and long way that continue and trying to shape a squad that we can. But hopefully, on the other side of it, the business side of it, you know, we're in an okay position, I believe, but sooner we can get more, or get some supporters back into the ground the better. Well, let's focus on the football side of things. Stevenage, next for you, what are your mid of the start to the season? Yeah, I mean, they've had a good start, you know, 4.6, we've got a good point up at Barrow, opening day of the season, we've had a good pitch with Portsmouth in the AFL game and then on the back of Tuesday night beating Southampton 21-21 with the last minute goal, so I think they've been a good place, listened to the manager, got a lot of respect for, speaks well, done a good job since he's been in there. So, yeah, we're, again, there's no, we always prepare meticulously for every game. Just on them, they've had a good start to the season. But, you know, we've worked hard all week and we're positing what we want to do and we've got to go out and make sure we put that game plan into action. I know it's early doors, but just how important is it to get that first win with the league campaign? Yeah, of course it is, yeah. We want to get it as first game if not your first and second. Now we've had two draws, so, yeah, we'll be striving for a three-pointer, obviously, but, you know, there's no givens, naturally, and they'll come in. There'll certainly be a lot more confident manner than the last time we played here, not long ago, in our first game when we managed to beat them 3-1. They're a different squad now, a different manager. But, again, focus on yourselves, let us go out. I've been okay with some parts of the performance, obviously. I mean, you'll have to look at last weeks. That was more endeavour and togetherness. You see something like Curtis Guthrie, you know, 11.5km in the game, you normally only get that for your midfielders or if you've got a really up and down fold back. So, the effort from everybody, the stats were really high, the work rate was that. But we've got to start trying to create more opportunities and trying to dominate more games if we can, possession wise. We've got the players to do that. But we, you know, as I said, going away at ball to Colchester, Forrest Green, both Colchester and Forrest Green, speaking their management fans themselves to be up there in the top 8. So, they've been two difficult games. We've come through them, obviously unbeaten, but we want to start certainly creating more opportunities and winning football games. I've got a question from me to do it. Appreciate your time. I just wanted to ask you one point about something that's been discussed in football quite widely at the moment, taking the knee before kickoff. Have you spoken about that as a group? Is it something that you'll look to continue to do at games? I'll leave it on to the players. You know, I think it was striking the day we, on Friday night, watched the game down at Forrest Green on the hotel television, the QPR game where nobody took the knee on the Friday night. We went to the game on Saturday, the referee asked the captains or whoever's putting the team sheets in which for us is Kenny, my assistant. I think, I don't know if it was Forrest Green's assistant or manager. They said they've not done it all season and weren't particularly bothered about doing it. So, you know, the referee we just didn't have the knee, but I think on Tuesday, I think it was Tuesday when Liz Ferdinand at QPR came out and said and I get where he's coming from because I've seen lots of games when the whistle's gone and they've gone down to taking the knee and I'm at Newcast, I think six of the players are running to the other half, so it does look a little bit like a token gesture at times. But if any of our players are adamant and they believe that they want to do it, then, you know, that's fine. But I get Liz's point a bit like the clap for carers when it seemed to be diluted and then they decided, you know, to stop after a while. But again, it's one that I think the players among themselves have had initial talks. I don't know what the outcome's been yet but we will find out tomorrow and then we'll take it from there. But it is difficult when some people are doing it, some games are doing it, some aren't. And again, it's a tough one. If you've got three or four of your lads, for example, I'm not saying it's happened here, but who were really strong and want to do it, which was a case at the first game against Bolton when Bolton had three or four lads that wanted to do it, so they want to do it. So, you know, you go ahead with it. I mean, it looked pretty, it probably caused more ripples. If one team does it, one team does it naturally. Likewise, if half your team do it and half your team don't, you don't think that'll ever be the case. But I think, you know, I thought Lesford and Anne's points were spotting really. Cheers for that, Stuart and the goal of this Saturday. Cheers, thank you. When you look back at last Saturday, given that we're ignoring for a moment the last-minute equaliser, how pleased were you with how well the team defended and managed to stay together as a team for that time? Yeah, certainly. I think when you take everything into consideration, you know, first and foremost Forrest Green had a good side at home, so it was always going to be a difficult game. Overall, until the two sendings off, I was okay with the performance. I always liked to create more and do better with the ball. Certainly defensively, we looked strong and sound and assured. I saw Forrest Green a week before against Bolton, create a lot of opportunities, but I think we snuffed them out where we went about the game, but likewise, I'd like to do more in the attacking third. And then when we went down to nine men to have Lee Novak, you know, sent it forward to go play at the back alongside Youngreach Stone, and then it was just wave after the wave of attack. We had to give up the wide areas for crosses to come in, but the desire to get the head on the ball, the blocks of the shots, keep them distant from long-range shooting was a terrific effort. And when you see the goal again in the 97th minute, you know, it's just through fatigue entirely from Rees who put his head on and kicked, you know, ball after ball coming into our box. He missed kicks one. And then we're actually defending with eight because Rees goes down in a heap with his ankle and the cross comes in and they've got far more men in the box and it's a good finish from the lad, but probably where Rees would have been. So as much as we were really despondent and it was a really disappointing dressing him after the game, we had to remind him what a great effort he'd put in. And, you know, once a penalty is given and they can go two and up, it could have been a long way back. So there's different ways to look at it. As I said after the game, mix the motions. But the effort, the togetherness, the team, you know, spirit was all there from a footballing point of view. We want to then now build on the point we got away from home and go and put a real positive home performance on. And give him how much effort they had to put in, particularly in the second half before his screen, how crucial has it been to have not had a midweek match this way you've managed to get a whole week with the players? Yeah, definitely. So a lot of Monday was just, you know, really a live session for a lot of the lads. As I said some of the distances covered last Saturday was terrific, you know, the desire for each other to work hard for each other against all odds was really there to be seen by everyone. But yeah, it was good that we didn't have a game. Naturally, we had a couple of knocks on last Saturday as well, which they've cleared up. It's give Reese more time to hopefully be available. So all in all, it was a good scenario that we didn't have a game, definitely. Thank you.