CITY have begun their summer business as Graham Alexander warned that they will not rush into deals.

The Bantams are understood to have held discussions with a couple of out-of-contract players who have been released by other clubs.

Alexander revealed they are also monitoring the play-offs with an eye on other potential targets once they become available.

The City chief is keen to get his teeth into shaping the squad how he wants it ahead of his first pre-season in charge.

But while he would like to make some early signings, Alexander has no issues with biding his time.

“I think it’s important you have patience to sign the players who you know will take you forward,” he said. “There’s a patience there.

“We have a clear idea of the profile of the player we want to bring in. We have got names for some of those players, but not all of the positions.

“So it’s a case if that player is still available and he’s our first choice, but he’s not here for the first week of pre-season or so forth, but we still have a really good opportunity to get him or we think that, then we are happy to be patient.

“It’s not about just making sure we have the 22 or 23 players in place from day one and that we’ve gambled on a few just for that purpose.

“We have to win games over a 10-month period, so I am not going to rush things to get them in by the first day.

READ MORE: Some eye-catching names on the list of free agents

“If we feel it’s the right player, then we will work exceptionally hard to make sure that happens.”

Alexander intends to make full use of the extra time from an extended off-season.

“There’s so much more to this role than what the public see,” he added.

“I’m used to it. I’ve been doing it for 10 years now and very rarely have I had more than 10 days off in a summer.

“It’s always been about recruitment, trying to work out training pitches and making sure absolutely everything is ready for the players coming back on day one.

“It’s so important that we start off on the right foot in a professional and ambitious manner. If you’re not prepared, then you put yourself on the back foot.

“I know it’s difficult sometimes. Bradford may have been a victim of that last year being in the play-offs and having a shorter summer.

“If you leave things to the summer, it’s too late. That’s why we have been organising pre-season friendlies for probably six weeks.

“I’d rather be busy than bored.”