Transfer news – jailed Speight misses start of Bradford season
Published:Bradford City’s new signing Jake Speight has quite a novel reason for missing the start of the season – he is in prison.
Peter Taylor, the manager at Valley Parade, had no idea that Speight had been convicted for assault when he signed the 24-year-old striker.
And Speight, who joined from Mansfield for £25,000, will now miss Bradford’s opening match of the season against Shrewsbury after landing himself a 12-week sentence.
This is a somewhat unwelcome surprise for the Bantams, who are the 8/1 favourites to win the League Two title this season.
Speight is not the first Bradford player to find himself behind bars. Jamie Lawrence, a midfielder who played for Bradford in their halcyon Premier League days, was twice imprisoned for robbery.
Bradford’s title rivals Gillingham, meanwhile, have hinted that their talismanic striker Simeon Jackson could leave the club, who are 9/1 to be League Two champions.
Although he would like the Canadian marksman to stay at the Priestfield Stadium, Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler is resigned to losing Jackson should a sizeable offer be made.
Elsewhere in League Two, Shrewsbury Town have signed right-back David Raven following his release from Carlisle United.
The Shrews, who narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, are 16/1 to clinch promotion to League One as league champions.
Who do you think will be champions? Wycombe are 12/1 to win the League Two title. See the full League Two market.
