OUT-of-favour Middlesbrough defender Steve Vickers is being tracked by Bradford City.

The 34-year-old centre-back is seen by Bantams chief Jim Jeffries as a short-term replacement for David Wetherall, who is expected to move on from Valley Parade.

Manchester City are said to be lining up a £1.5m bid for Wetherall and the former Leeds man has also previously held talks with Southampton.

The imminent departure of Wetherall has led to Jeffries drawing up a short-list of replacements and he is hoping to tie up a deal to bring in both Vickers and Dunfermline defender Andy Tod.

Boro stopper Vickers had been on the verge of completing a £500,000 switch to Crystal Palace recently, until Eagles manager Steve Bruce relinquished control of first team affairs.

And, as reported in the Northern Echo on Thursday, with Bruce's own future in the balance, as he bids to become the new boss of Birmingham City, Vickers is on the look out for a new employer.

The former Tranmere Rovers stopper is keen to move to a club in the north and Bradford City would be an ideal location.

Birmingham could also be a destination should Bruce resolve his dispute with Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

Vickers has not been part of Steve McClaren's first team since the 4-1 derby defeat at home to Newcastle United on September 8.

Another Boro star who has been linked with a switch away from the Riverside in the past is Andy Campbell.

But the 22-year-old striker is now focusing on battling for a place in the rejuvenated squad under McClaren.

Campbell's agent, Mark Curtis, has indicated that the pacy frontman would love to stay on Teesside if given the opportunity to impress.

"Andy is back in training now (after a hernia operation) and doing some jogging - he should be back in action again within the next two weeks," said Curtis.

"Any ambitious player would be trying to break into the first-team at Middlesbrough and that applies to Andy."

Campbell has had successful loan spells with Sheffield United and Huddersfield over the past few seasons and he was another who saw a £1m switch to Crystal Palace fall through earlier this year.

* Middlesbrough will host Notts County in the third round of the AXA FA Youth Cup at the BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium on Wednesday 28th November (KO 7.30).

Admission on the turnstiles will be just £2 for adults and £1 for under-16s and over-65s. No tickets are available in advance.

* Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has admitted he would consider allowing Steve Bruce back as manager of his club.

Bruce walked out on Palace last week after learning of Birmingham's interest in him.

But Jordan is refusing to let him talk to Palace's Division One rivals and has threatened to allow the situation to drag on indefinitely.

Bruce has had no contact with Palace since his resignation, but Jordan refused to rule out taking him back. He said: ''I would have to sit down and look at that situation. I would have to assess why that u-turn has come about if it happened and gauge how genuine it was.

''Only then would I make a decision. It would be difficult because the fans are screaming for his head, and their trust in him would be gone.

Read more about the Boro here.