Harry Chapman among players released by Bradford City

Things could have worked out very differently for the winger, whose departure from City was confirmed with today’s publication of the retained list.

The hamstring injury that Chapman suffered towards the end of his first season had major repercussions.

He had been his best vein of form for the club at the time, finally looking like the attacking free spirit Mark Hughes had hoped to see more of.

But eight days after scoring in a starring role against Sutton at Valley Parade, his campaign came to an abrupt end when he crashed into an advertising hoarding against Swindon.

READ MORE: Bradford City announce their retained list

He was guided away after a length stoppage at the County Ground – and would not kick a ball again for another six months after needing surgery.

How City missed that left-wing outlet going into the play-offs – and how Chapman’s City career never really got back on the rails.

He did provide one significant moment of magic last season with the free-kick against Doncaster that powered the Bantams into the semi-finals of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

There were also four assists – two in the Trophy and two from 15 appearances in the league.

But 14 of Chapman’s 21 total appearances were from the bench and he started only seven times.

Liam Ridehalgh made 27 starts and he ends a three-year stay at Valley Parade just three games short of 100.

The 33-year-old was a reliable figure when called upon at left back but found himself pushed out after the switch to wing-back by Lewis Richards and, more recently, Tyreik Wright.

Matt Derbyshire’s departure comes as no surprise.

The veteran striker, now 38, had not been on the pitch since January 6 and was named in the squad only once after that.

He had been chiefly deployed by Alexander as an attacking coach after filling a similar support role alongside Kevin McDonald during his caretaker reign in the autumn.

There were no big shocks in the list of names shown the door, although Noah Wadsworth can probably count himself a bit unlucky.

Matt Derbyshire made his last appearance for City in January (Image: Thomas Gadd)

The youngster recently broke into the first team with a couple of appearances from the bench and Alexander had spoken glowingly about his performances in training.

Dylan Youmbi and Harvey Rowe fell into the shadow of Bobby Pointon after they all penned first senior deals last summer.

While Pointon enjoyed a break-out year that made it a no-brainer for City to activate the further year’s option in his contract, the others found themselves farmed out on loan in the National League North.

Similarly, Finn Cousin-Dawson had become almost the forgotten man since he burst onto the scene under Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars during the closed-doors campaign.

The Bantams tied him down long term at that time but he has been playing on loan with Blyth Spartans.

Luke Hendrie also finished his spell with City back in the north-east at Hartlepool. His exit ends an association with his boyhood club that first began in 2017 when Stuart McCall borrowed him from Burnley.

The retained list does not represent the last of the departures.

City now face the bigger challenge of moving on players who are not in the picture but still under contract.

Vadaine Oliver and Timi Odusina fall into that category while there must be question marks over the likes of McDonald, Adam Wilson and Ash Taylor.