(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
By Alex Beard
There was positive news for Bradford City this afternoon, as defensive pairing Matthew Kilgallon and Nathaniel Knight-Percival both extended their contracts with the club.
The duo put pen to paper on deals that will run until the end of next season, with both having joined the Bantams prior to the start of the last campaign.
Kilgallon and Knight-Percival have started alongside one another in the centre of defence in all twelve of Stuart McCall's side's games this year.
The pair have played a key part in Bradford winning six of their last eight games, helping them rise to third in the League One table – just four points behind league leaders Shrewsbury Town.
Knight-Percival has two goals on his record this season, while Kilgallon netted in the win at Peterborough United last month.
Bantams boss McCall was thrilled to tie the two players down: “Prior to the closure of the summer transfer window there was actually some interest in Killa from a team abroad,” he told the club's official website.
“It would have been a big offer in terms of finances but Matt wanted to stay. The way he has been playing this season and the loyalty he has shown to the club, Matt deserves this new contract.
“Apart from a small period last season when he had a dip, as most players will do during a campaign, Nat has been excellent since he arrived at the club.
“He has shown his adaptability to play on the right-hand side of defence despite being left-footed, and he has been defensively sound again in the early stages of this season.”