Can Jewell make the cut?

Zinedine Zidane and Neil Redfearn: for those who continue to dine out on the notion that England's Premiership consists of layers of spam topped by a coating of caviar, Wednesday afternoon offered yet another appetising course for consumption.

While the great Roberto Bettega, now vice-president at Juventus, confirmed that Manchester United had made a second approach for Zidane, and failed again - "There is no way this club would try to sell a player of his class," - United's opponents today in the league, Bradford City, were also inquiring after a midfielder. They need someone to replace 34-year-old Redfearn who left for Wigan Athletic last week. Zinedine Zidane and Neil Redfearn in the same sentence: it's food for thought.

Sweet and sour is not a wholly accurate of the Premiership, but the contrast is the spicy ingredient people will taste first this afternoon when United's bus turns into Bradford's notorious Manningham Lane - where Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, spent much of his time - on its way through the tight, traditional high-terrace streets that hem in Valley Parade. It is the first time United have made the trip for a league match since 1936.

United were promoted from the old second division that year. Bradford, meanwhile, lurched around the lower divisions for a further 60 years. They were anonymous mainly, Bradford's second club, Park Avenue, were more famous, and even after Park Avenue fell out of the league Bradford City remained in the shadows. It was not until May 11th, 1985, that Bradford regained a national consciousness, but this was via the tragic fire at the ground, which killed 56 people and burned many more.

The tragedy was not the catalyst for renewal. That cliche was worn away by another few seasons of mediocrity and, though it is not a popular argument with many in Bradford, it was the arrival of the current chairman Geoffrey Richmond in 1994 which coincided with City's rise. Richmond, who made his fortune by acquiring and then selling the Ronson lighter business, announced a five-year plan. The aim was the Premiership. How we laughed.

On May 9th last year, however, Bradford secured Premiership status with a final day 3-2 win at Wolves. Seventy-seven years of waiting and they were back in the top division. It was Richmond laughing now.

A memorable image of that Molineux day was Bradford's young manager Paul Jewell smoking a pretend cigar after Wolves had struck the woodwork. A draw and Ipswich would have gone up instead. Jewell, 35 last September, was Richmond's surprise choice to succeed Chris Kamara after the latter was sacked two years ago amid a flurry of racist allegations.

It was Jewell's first job and he was an unpopular appointment with the fans. But he has proved his worth now and cigar-style moments have endeared him to locals. Excellent company, gregarious and eager to learn, Jewell has overseen a rollercoaster season in which City have beaten clubs such as Arsenal, Leicester and Newcastle yet have lost to Watford, Sunderland and, last Saturday, 4-0 at Coventry. Yet they are one win away from safety while Sheffield Wednesday and Watford already look relegated.

Unless Wimbledon slip dramatically, it could come down to a two-team race between Bradford and Derby - Jewell, the novice, versus Jim Smith, the veteran. It would be a shame to see either falter because both are likeable and approachable. This week, though, Jewell has kept a deliberately low profile and sent along his assistant Chris Hutchings to Bradford's prematch press conference. He had little to say.

Of more value was Peter Beagrie. Now 34 and with a career that has included pit-stops at places like Sheffield United, Stoke and Manchester City, as well as Everton twice, Beagrie has experience of life in the bus lane. But when asked the inevitable staying up question, his reply was: "I would have to say that we are certainties to survive." When he saw the expressions that met that remark, he added: "I'm being realistic, it's not bravado.

"I feel we are well enough equipped to get enough points to finish fourth from bottom. When you consider that we've got Southampton, Derby and Wimbledon to play at home, where we have a pretty good record, then you have to admit that we can do it. I know what it's like down at the bottom, I've been there. Only if we don't play with passion, then we are going to struggle."

Beagrie could only remember three matches this season when that was the case. Unfortunately one of them was last Saturday at Coventry. To be facing the European champions the next week is maybe not the ideal scenario for reconstructing shattered spirit, though Kamara said the opposite. Kamara, in charge for three seasons during which Bradford came up from the second division, thinks Manchester United are the best opposition Bradford could be meeting. "No one expects them to win. The pressure's off. Actually, it's a good game for them after Coventry."

As for the occasion, Kamara said: "When I was there we played Manchester United in a friendly once. There was a full house and it was just something that everybody talked about for a long time. So for Bradford to be playing Manchester United on level terms is something."

Level terms is one way of putting it. Kamara, of course, did not mean financially.

While United go shopping for the likes of Zidane, Bradford have recruited 41-year-old Neville Southall. Dean Saunders (35), Stuart McCall (35), and Gunnar Halle (34), are also ageing players in an old squad.

"They have signed a lot of experience," Kamara said. "You know what you are going to get from a Saunders or a David Wetherall. And, looking at them, the only problem is a lack of goals. The organisation is okay, everything else is okay. But it would be difficult for them if they went down, especially for the older players, to try and get promotion again. They have more chance of holding on rather than bouncing back.

"If they can hold on, it would mean next season they would be 12 months wiser, 12 months better off, it gives you a better chance. It's the same way it gave Sunderland a better chance."

For Kamara, Sunderland, not United is the role model for his old club. "Everybody hopes they survive but what Sunderland have done is get away from doing simply that. It's a different type of moan you hear up there now."

Hoping for a different type of moan: it's not how most would describe Bradford City's priority. After all, they never did replace Neil Redfearn.