The football club can confirm that City will not be entering a side into this (2013/2014) season's Central League (reserves) division.
The Central League is an optional league-based competition that is run by the Football League to give club's reserve teams games to play throughout the course of the season.
Having participated in the competition over recent years, the club now feel it would be of greater benefit to arrange their own non-first team matches if and when necessary.
Given that the Central League, like any competition, has a number of rules to adhere to, such as the requirement to rearrange all postponed fixtures, City believe that it would be better for the club to have the freedom to play any reserve fixtures on their own terms.
Going down this route, the club can now pick and choose games on dates and at venues to suit the needs of Bradford City, as well as having the flexibility to change a number of aspects of the matches, such as kick off times, without the need to get third-party permission.
Building on the club's partnership with RIASA, City will now look to play a selection of Development Squad games during the forthcoming season, with any City teams involved likely to be made up of a mixture of RIASA students, apprentices from City's youth ranks and members of Phil Parkinson's first team squad.
The club is planning to host most of any home games played this season at Eccleshill United's Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
City's first scheduled Development Squad match is a friendly fixture against near neighbours Bradford (Park Avenue) at Horsfall Stadium on Monday 12 August 2013 - kick off 7:30pm.