Bradford City decision to sign player after Blackpool stint was justified - he made 129 Bantams apps | OneFootball

After first failing to break into the Bradford City side, the defender became such a key figure he was named captain by the end of the season

Eyebrows would have been raised when Bradford City loaned in a player that struggled for gametime at a divisional rival in the form of Paudie O'Connor.

O’Connor arrived at Valley Parade on loan in 2019 from Championship neighbours Leeds United in search of more gametime.

That was not initially forthcoming for O’Connor at Bradford – but that quickly changed, with the Irishman going on to become a key figure for the Bantams across a three-year spell.

Paudie O’Connor’s fortunes at Bradford City quickly changed

Fresh off the back of signing a new two-year deal at Leeds, O’Connor was sent out on his first professional loan, with Whites sporting director Victor Orta believing the centre-half to have a bright future at Elland Road.

At the time of O’Connor’s contract extension, Orta commented: “We are really pleased to see Paudie sign a new deal at the club.

“He has huge potential and we hope he will be a key player for Leeds United for many years to come, not only is he a good footballer, he also has the desire and attitude needed to take him to the top.

"Paudie is keen to play games, as every hungry young footballer should, so we will now look to send him out on loan for the forthcoming season.”

As such, he joined League One outfit Blackpool on a season-long loan. However, after just 10 appearances for the Tangerines, Leeds recalled the defender – before Blackpool had the chance to send O’Connor back, in hope of signing another loan player.

O’Connor’s recall allowed him to go back out on loan, taking the decision to join Leeds’ neighbours Bradford.

However, it appeared that O’Connor would befall the same fate at Valley Parade as he did at Bloomfield Road; the Irishman frequently finding himself out of Bradford’s matchday squad due to a maximum of five loan players being allowed in an EFL squad.

However, the appointment of Gary Bowyer completed changed the trajectory of O’Connor’s Bradford career.

Bowyer had been instrumental in bringing O’Connor to Blackpool in the summer prior, only to quit in August.

Not only would O’Connor become a first-team regular, but he would also captain the side, despite only being 21.

Appointed in March, Bowyer and O’Connor could not help Bradford avoid relegation, with the Bantams dropping into League Two.

Paudie O’Connor returns to Bradford City on a permanent basis

Towards the end of the 2018/19 season, Bowyer made it clear that he wanted O’Connor to return on loan the following campaign, so impressive was the young defender.

Whilst Bradford were only looking for another loan deal, Leeds were prepared to allow O’Connor to leave Elland Road permanently – despite previously rating him one for the future.

As such, Bradford swooped to sign the centre-back on a permanent basis, installing O’Connor as their captain once again.

Bowyer’s belief in O’Connor might not have yielded a return for the manager, with the former Blackpool boss sacked in February 2020 with Bradford outside the play-offs, but it certainly paid off in the long run.

O’Connor would go on to be named Bradford’s player of the year in back-to-back seasons, first claiming the gong after the 2020/21 campaign, before winning it again in 2021/22.

However, after 129 appearances for the club, it was announced that O’Connor would depart on a free transfer.

No transfer fee was ever reported when O’Connor joined Bradford, suggesting that the Bantams did not lose out.

Bradford’s inability to escape League Two saw the Irishman move to Lincoln City, where he has played League One football for the past three seasons.

It appears likely that O’Connor will depart Lincoln in similar circumstances to his Bradford exit, with the centre-back out of contract this summer and reportedly uninterested in staying at an Imps side marooned in League One.