Lee: I wanted to stay at Bantams

Published: 01 Jul 2009 - 14:39:02

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Bradford manager Stuart McCall has been forced to try and offload some of his higher earners after having his playing budget slashed and centre-half Lee has been sacrificed as a result. The 31-year-old told the club's official website: "If I was a young lad put in that situation, I would have been devastated, but being a bit more experienced I understood what was going on and thankfully we've got everything sorted. "And by me doing this, I'd like to think it helps Bradford a bit. It was never my choice to leave. Until all this happened, I was looking forward to coming back next season and playing my part in hopefully making up for the disappointment of missing promotion." Another of City's bigger earners, Michael Boulding, this week agreed to take a wage cut, while Chris Brandon and Paul McLaren were also made available for transfer at the end of last season. Lee, who signed for Bradford from Doncaster last summer, will line up against his former team-mates on the opening day of the new season when McCall's side face Notts County at Meadow Lane.