"Outstayed his welcome" - Bradford City urged to offload player "on big wages" | OneFootball

FLW's Bradford City fan pundit has given his view on striker Vadaine Oliver's future at the club.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Bradford City striker Vadaine Oliver made a surprise loan move to League One side Shrewsbury Town in the January transfer window.

After scoring 30 goals in 93 games during an impressive two-year spell at Gillingham in League One, Oliver joined Bradford on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, and his signing looked like a coup for the club.

The Bantams would have expected Oliver to be prolific at League Two level, but it has certainly not worked out that way, and he has even had two loan spells away from the University of Bradford Stadium.

Oliver reunited with his former Gillingham manager Steve Evans when he made a temporary move to Stevenage last January, but he failed to score in 14 appearances during his time at the Lamex Stadium.

Despite his limited game time at Bradford in the first half of the season, Oliver was handed another opportunity in League One when he completed a loan switch to Shrewsbury in January, but he has scored just one goal in eight appearances for Gareth Ainsworth's side so far.

Bradford City fan pundit issues verdict on Vadaine Oliver's future

When asked which player has outstayed his welcome at the club, FLW's Bradford City fan pundit Fletcher Smith insisted that it is the right time for Oliver to move on in the summer after a disappointing stint in West Yorkshire.

"The player that has outstayed their welcome at Bradford is Vadaine Oliver," Fletcher said.

"He's currently out on loan at Shrewsbury in League One and we're obviously in League Two.

"He's on big wages, but he never really hit the ground running, and it hasn't worked for him here.

"I can't say he hasn't put the work in because he looks like he has tried.

"It worked at Gillingham in League One, and he was one of the top scorers when they got relegated, but it hasn't worked here.

"I think he has outstayed his welcome, and it would be better for both parties if he moves on."

Vadaine Oliver's summer Bradford City exit looks inevitable

Having fought off competition from clubs across the EFL to land Oliver's signature in the summer of 2022, Bradford would have expected big things from the striker, but his time at the club has been incredibly underwhelming.

Despite playing at a lower level, Oliver has failed to reach anywhere near the same heights as he did at Gillingham in League One, and his loan spells at Stevenage and Shrewsbury have been equally disappointing.

With his contract set to expire in the summer, Bantams manager Graham Alexander admitted he agreed with Oliver's decision to join the Shrews on loan in January, suggesting that he has no intention of offering him a new deal.

As Fletcher says, Oliver's struggles at Bradford have not been down to a lack of effort, but it seems certain that he has already played his last game for the club, and few supporters will be disappointed to see him depart.