Lee Sharpe issues Bradford City warning concerning Wrexham and Stockport | OneFootball

Ex-Bradford City winger Lee Sharpe believes the Bantams will be the favourites to win promotion from League Two next season with Wrexham and Stockport County out of the division but has warned the club chiefs to spend over the summer to ensure they don't miss out on their opportunity.

Bradford made a poor start to the season, resulting in the sacking of Mark Hughes in October, and after a lengthy managerial search, Graham Alexander took charge at Valley Parade the following month.

Inconsistency was a big problem during the early stages of Alexander's tenure, and a run of four consecutive defeats in March looked to have ended Bradford's play-off hopes but a strong end to the season saw them close in on the top seven.

The Bantams won six and drew one of their final seven games, and while it was not enough for them to reach the play-offs, their excellent form in the latter part of the campaign has offered hope for next season.

Bradford have appointed David Sharpe as their new head of football operations and the club have already started their summer rebuild, with defender Neill Byrne and midfielder Antoni Sarcevic joining from League Two champions Stockport.

Sharpe: Bradford City must strengthen to win promotion next season

Sharpe, who played for Bradford between 1999 and 2002, believes his former club will be the favourites for promotion in League Two next season, but has warned the Bantams must bolster their squad this summer in order to compete at the top of the division.

"Yes they are (favourites to go up with Wrexham and Stockport promoted)," Sharpe told FLW exclusively, via William Hill.

"But Bradford need to strengthen their squad. It’s imperative they add quality so they can compete for the season.

"It’s a long season in League Two and you must have a deeper squad to compete with so many games.

Bradford City must capitalise on Wrexham and Stockport County absence next season

It is difficult to disagree with Sharpe that Bradford will be fancied for promotion next season.

The Bantams enjoyed an excellent end to the season, and the arrival of two players from this season's League Two champions Stockport is a big statement of intent from the club.

As Sharpe says, Bradford must strengthen further this summer if they are to be among the promotion contenders, but they do already have a strong squad, and they have one of the division's most prolific goalscorers in Andy Cook.

Wrexham and Stockport's absence will make the fourth tier slightly easier next season, but the likes of Carlisle United, Port Vale, Cheltenham Town, MK Dons, Doncaster Rovers, Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield will all be hopeful of a promotion challenge, and the Bantams will need to be much more consistent next term if they are to make a return to League One.