Bradford City Football Club can now confirm that manager Phil Parkinson has left the club and that only in the last few minutes have the contracts and paperwork been signed despite earlier communication elsewhere.
We understand the fans' frustrations at the lack of communication and the release of any news in recent days, but as a club we have a proud tradition of only making official comment when it is right and correct to do so. This is when contracts are signed and terms agreed. This is only fair on everyone concerned. Please understand this is the right way to operate and we will continue to do so.
Phil leaves with the best wishes of everyone at Bradford City and we would like to place on record our gratitude for his immense contribution over the past five years.
His departure is on mutually good terms and we wish him all the best as he takes up a new challenge at Bolton Wanderers.
Phil's period in charge at Valley Parade has been one of the most memorable in the club's history, during which time he has taken the club from the lower reaches of League Two to the League One play-offs in the campaign just ended.
And, of course, no-one associated with Bradford City will ever forget how Phil led the team to the Capital One Cup Final at Wembley in 2013 or the journey to the FA Cup quarter finals in 2015, including the historic 4-2 victory at Chelsea.
The attention of the board will now turn to identifying a new manager who can build on the progress that has been made during the last five years.
Joint owner Edin Rahic said:
'Everyone at the club appreciates what Phil has achieved as manager of Bradford City. We wanted him to stay and work with us as new owners but he has decided to leave on his own terms. It was not our decision for him to go and it is only fair after such a long and successful time at the club we did not stand in his way to follow another opportunity. We only waited to communicate this news when it was officially completed.'
During Phil's time at Bradford City the club made tremendous progress, securing a higher league position in each successive season and enjoying some of the most memorable moments in its history.
Phil played a pivotal role in the re-emergence of our club as a symbol of pride for the City of Bradford with our large and growing fan base at the heart of it.
Behind Phil's success has been a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to the cause and we know that his departure will come as a huge disappointment to our supporters.
He will rightly be remembered as one of the club's most successful managers ever.
Assistant manager Steve Parkin, goalkeeping coach Lee Butler, Head of Sports Performance Nick Allamby and Head Scout Tim Breacker will also leave the club to join Bolton Wanderers.
We now turn our attention to finding a replacement for Phil who can play a leading role in what promises to be an exciting new era for Bradford City Football Club. We ask you all as Bradford City supporters to do what you do best and support the club.