STUART McCall has revealed how Bradford made their move for Bury defender Adam Thompson after he was dropped from their starting line-up.

The Bradford City manager said at his weekly press conference that the club had attempted to buy the former Southend centre-back in the summer but were priced out of a move by the Shakers.

Unable to match their offer of a three-year contract, the Bantams stepped back from their pursuit of the Northern Ireland international, but were alerted to the possibility of a loan deal after he failed in three starts for the Shakers.

"Adam's (Thompson) move came out of the blue a little bit, we noticed he'd been left out at Bury so we moved for him," said McCall.

"We looked at him in the summer and with the lengthy contract and money that Bury had offered, we couldn't bring him in.

"We're delighted to get him in and he's delighted to be joining us when he's back from international duty."

Thompson took to Twitter as soon as his season-long loan to Bradford was confirmed yesterday, saying he was excited to have joined such a big club.

The 24-year-old helped Bury to a clean sheet in a 1-0 win at home to Walsall in his League One debut, but defeats followed at home to Sunderland in the Carabao Cup and at Wigan in the lead.

Thompson was dropped after the 4-1 loss at the Latics and never played again, while centre-back partner and fellow summer signing Tom Aldred was stripped of the captaincy after the that defeat and has since also found himself on the substitutes' bench.

In the meantime, Alex Whitmore, a loan signing from Burnley, has cemented his place at centre-back, where he was partnered by ex-Shakers captain Nathan Cameron for Saturday's goalless draw at Rochdale.

It was understood Cameron was on the verge of a loan move away from the club as he attempted to regain match fitness following 12 months out with a knee injury, but manager Lee Clark has since brought him back into the fold.

On Cameron, Clark said: "I am absolutely delighted for him. I have been desperate to pick him since I came through the door.

"I knew about him, and he has shown me he is a real man.

"That was a difficult thing to be asked to do, being thrown in at Rochdale like that, but he has produced the goods.

"It shows what can be achieved with strong experienced players in key positions, with Phil Edwards also filling in in the centre of midfield.

"Even when we were reduced to 10 men, Rochdale were not able to open us up.

"So I'm delighted for the lad."

But Clark added a note of caution.

"The reality of his injury is that Nathan Cameron will not be able to play Saturday-Tuesday, he can't manage three games in a week.

"We have seven games coming up in September, so I am going to have to manage that, but if we can get Nathan to play in 75 per cent of those game then I will be delighted."