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After a failed play-off campaign in 2015-16 and the subsequent departure of manager Phil Parkinson to Bolton, the new gaffer at Valley Parade; or rather returning manager, Stuart McCall, has set about rejuvenating Bradford City for another attempt at promotion to the Championship.
The void left by goalkeeper Ben Williams was recently filled with the signing of experienced Irish goalkeeper Colin Doyle, who has experience of the Championship and Premier League with Birmingham City, as well as boasting one international cap for the Republic of Ireland.
Bradford have seemed to do well on the goalkeeping front in recent years, and after Williams’ departure it was vital that McCall upon taking the reins filled the vacant position between the sticks quickly. They have opted for the sensible option of an experienced goalkeeper, who is sure to do a job for the Valley Parade club next season.
In the off-season, transfers in the lower divisions are dominated by free moves, so some have of course tongue-in-cheek seen his £1 price tag as an ironically high fee compared to other options. Only time will tell however if Doyle will be a real steal for his £1 transfer, and whether Bradford can emulate last season’s achievements or even go one better and reach the Championship once again.
Whilst his acquisition signals the Bantams’ intent to come back strong in the upcoming season, it is another sad indication of the woeful state of affairs at Blackpool, as West Yorkshire outfit Bradford swooped for the 31-year-old shot-stopper by triggering his mere £1 release clause.
The sheer lunacy of the transfer has made it arguably one of the most memorable to come out of the Football League so far this summer. As the despondent Seasiders prepare for life in League Two after their relegation from the third tier in 2015-16, fans of both clubs and other Football League clubs had some interesting things to say.
The Bantams contingent were not hailing the signing as a coup, but it prompted some rather humorous reactions from all over. Let us know your opinion on the move, after checking out how Twitter reacted to the news…
I don't know what I'm more upset about. The fact Colin Doyle only cost £1 or the fact a quid only gets you 4 Freddos these days!
— Baldy (@baldy984)
http://twitter.com/Curry_LG/status/752880539628167168
Colin Doyle has just signed for Bradford city for £1 😂😂 top lad
— Thomas Murphy (@TMurphyFFC)
I think Colin Doyle will now been known as "The £1 Goalie" throughout the rest of his career now.
— Ryan Woodward (@RyanIsAWood)
http://twitter.com/MatB_STFC69/status/752967570513362944
Colin Doyle signed for £1.
Throw in another 50p and we can offer bacuna, lescott and guzan— Karan Khanna (@mrkhannaa)
Though, in an era where many transfers across the lower two divisions are generally free in the summer, the enormous pressure of his “hefty” transfer fee was also highlighted…
The weight of that transfer fee on poor Colin Doyle's shoulders must be massive I feel for him
— Dave Pike (@pikey_dave)
One Birmingham fan was more concerned about whether his club would be cashing in on the sell-on of their former asset…
I notice Colin Doyle has been sold to for a huge sum of £1.00 wonder if blues added a sell on clause when he left 😂😂
— bluenose mucka (@RichardTonry)
Not even politics was safe from the microscope after this astonishing transfer…
Another consequence of ? "BBC Sport – Colin Doyle: Blackpool goalkeeper joins Bradford City for £1 fee"
— Andrew P. Sykes (@CyclingEurope)