Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United sent defender Paudie O'Connor on loan to Gary Bowyers' League One Bradford City.
Bradford City manager Gary Bowyer has made it clear that he wants to keep Leeds United loanee Paudie O’Connor at the club next season, speaking to the Telegraph and Argus.
Bowyer knows O’Connor well, having worked with the young Irishman during his spell at Blackpool in the first half of the season. And the pair reunited at Valley Parade when Bowyer was named as David Hopkin’s replacement in March.
O’Connor, who was struggling for game time until the 47-year-old’s arrival, was immediately promoted to the Bradford starting XI while taking the captain’s armband to boot.
And the former Blackburn Rovers manager has now admitted that he wants to keep hold of the 21-year-old should the opportunity arise, though he didn’t confirm whether he’d be looking at a permanent or temporary deal.
“Paudie is a good character. He’s competitive and for someone so young, he talks ever so well. I thought he was excellent again (on Monday),” Bowyer said.
“He’s a good organiser and I had no problems giving him the captain’s armband. I spoke to him on Sunday about it.
“But I’m going to shut up now talking about him because I don’t want anybody to take him in the summer bar us!”
O’Connor is under contract at Leeds until 2020, meaning he will be a free agent in just over a year's time. Marcelo Bielsa’s side have a decision to make then about whether they will give the Limerick-born centre-back a chance in the first team.
If not, a summer departure might be the best solution for all parties.
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