Bradford City favourite Paul Heckingbottom has backed the club's new found blend of youth and experience to lead the Bantams to promotion this season.
Bradford boss Stuart McCall has added a wealth of experience to the side since last season's disappointing 10th place finish, bringing in Graeme Lee, Chris Brandon, Paul McLaren and Paul Arnison – all of whom are over 30.
This influx of senior pla
yers has brought about comparisons with Paul Jewell's infamous "Dad's Army" which steered the club to the Premier League in 1999 and kept them there the following season, and of which McCall was a central member.
Heckingbottom, however, is unconcerned with such comparisons, and gave his full backing to manager McCall's summer recruitment plans.
Barnsley-born full-back Heckingbottom, who turned 31 on Thursday, has had two spells at Bradford and insists the side now has the right balance of proven quality and exciting potential with which to dominate the division.
"The gaffer has brought in players with experience, who know what this league is all about and who he expects to perform for him.
"A lot has been made of their respective ages, but they've all got five or six more good years in them yet – it's not like they're all coming here for a final pay day.
"They've all arrived from League One clubs, and turned down contracts with clubs from that division, and I think that clearly shows the direction the club is heading in.
"Ultimately, their ages don't matter if they are bringing extra quality into the side."
As a senior member of the side, the ex-Manchester United trainee admits he is relishing helping the club's young stars to acclimatise to the demands of first team football.
He said: "Players like Kyle Nix, Willy Topp and Joe Colbeck have shown how much ability they've got over the past season, and it'll only do them good to play alongside the calibre of players the gaffer is bringing in, and players with plenty of games behind them, like myself.
"If they all stay fit and get a run of games alongside experienced players in a successful team, then they're all going to keep improving.
"It's the role of the older guys to protect them a little bit and make it easy for them to get used to playing in the first team.
The full article contains 397 words and appears in Yorkshire Sport newspaper.
