Promotion-hunting Bradford hopeful Portsmouth won't intervene over Tom McIntyre

Bradford boss Graham Alexander is hoping Pompey won’t intervene and recall Tom McIntyre from his promotion-hunting squad.

Although he believes the defender won’t request a return himself, despite an ongoing lack of game time.

The out-of-favour Pompey man linked up with the League One club on deadline day in September, agreeing a season-long loan.

Having not been allocated a squad number and overlooked for their pre-season friendly programme, John Mousinho was keen to offload the former Reading man whose time at Fratton Park has been disrupted by injury.

However, McIntyre has started just three League One matches for the high-flying Bantams, while totalling 13 league minutes since his last start on October 18.

There is a recall option this month, but Alexander is keen to keep the 27-year-old for the remainder of the campaign.

‘I haven’t given him that impression’

The Bantams boss told the Bradford Argus & Telegraph: ‘It’s not something I’ve looked at. It has to be communicated between both clubs and obviously Tom himself.

‘He’s not given me any impression that he’s looking to do that. I haven’t given him that impression either.

‘He’s fighting to get into the team and he’s part of the matchday squad because I believe he can play in two or three positions for us. But I don’t want to just have him here as some sort of utility player.

‘I want to give him some value as in he can be in our starting team week in, week out. But ultimately, he’s trying to break into a very good team.’

Joined Pompey in January 2024

McIntyre was signed by Pompey in January 2024 to bolster their push for the Championship, yet has subsequently totalled just 14 appearances.

He suffered a broken left ankle and red card on his debut against Northampton and, although that dismissal was later rescinded upon appeal, his Pompey career never truly recovered.

After returning for the 2024-25 season, he was handed 10 successive starts in the centre of the Blues’ injury-hit defence.

However, following the disastrous 4-0 defeat at Derby in December 2024, followed by FA Cup elimination at Wycombe the following month, he was loaned out to Charlton for the second half of the campaign.

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Then came the September move to Bradford on a season-long loan, which effectively takes him up to the end of his Pompey contract, which expires this summer.

And he has featured 11 times so far for the third-placed side, who are pushing for successive promotions.

‘He’s got some strong talents’

Alexander added: ‘Tom came to see me a few weeks ago and I’ve probably had two or three chats with him since. He’s a great guy, brilliant professional and is adaptable and can play in different positions.

‘He’s got some strong talents in his possession side of it and how he reads the game.

‘He just wanted to ask a few questions about how I saw him and how he could prove himself to be in our team.

‘That’s what I think a professional should be when they aren’t the team. He’s got great support for the other team-mates and has really settled in well.

‘He’s still got that desire to play but he’s got it in the right way. He’s asking the right questions and then he’s going out to the training pitch to show us what he can do.

‘I think he’s a really open character and really mature and I still feel he can be of real good value to us as a club. Hopefully we can be for him as well.’

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