Bradford City have confirmed that Anton McElhone has left the club following their relegation to League Two, as reported by the Telegraph and Argus.
The Scot had been assistant manager to David Hopkin, joining at the beginning of December following a spell in America with New England Revolution.
Whilst Bradford experienced a resurgence over the festive period, their 2019 form has been shocking and Hopkin made way for Gary Bowyer, prompting McElhone to now leave the club.
McElhone’s area of expertise came in fitness and conditioning, something he had honed with spells at Spurs and Hibernian, prior to taking up the role of Head of Fitness with New England.
Despite Hopkin’s dismissal, he remained with City as part of Gary Bowyer’s coaching team. However. after the former Blackpool boss suggested that the future of his backroom staff could hinge on relegation, his future has been in doubt.
Bowyer will now look for one of his own generals to come in and help try to turn the Bantams around.
Our View
Hardly surprising news, McElhone was a key figure under Hopkin but not Bowyer.
His expertise perhaps helped keep him in the job, he wasn’t so much an assistant as a department on his own.
However, anyone watching some of the lethargic and laboured Bradford performance through the spring will argue the Scot wasn’t up to the task.
