Wycombe Wanderers have revealed that they launched an audacious bid to land former Celtic player Neil Lennon. The swoop however has failed to come off after the player said that he wanted to play at a level higher than Coca-Cola League Two. Lennon, 35, recently quit Celtic after seven glorious years during which he won five league titles and four Scottish FA Cups. He played under former Wanderers manager Martin O'Neill and alongside current Blues boss Paul Lambert. Wycombe Managing Director Steve Hayes brook the news of the attempted swoop.

"I know how highly Paul Lambert rates Neil both as a player and as a man, so I thought 'why not?' Let's see if he's interested," said Hayes. "It had to be done very quickly. Paul Lambert is on holiday with his family, but he knew what was going on and was very keen for us to sign Neil. We had a very encouraging meeting. Neil was really interested in what we had to say. We explained how ambitious we are and how much we'd love to have him on board even though we can't compete with the wages he's been offered by several clubs much bigger than Wycombe. But money was never the issue with Neil. He's a very genuine guy who's only interested in playing football."

Meanwhile Colin Todd has blamed Bradford City's relegation to League Two on the mass exodus of players. Todd parted company with the Bantams in February, leaving the team in 16th position in the table and five points above the relegation zone. Speaking with the BBC the former Bantams boss said he feels he could have kept the club from slipping into the basement division.

"We lost striker Dean Windass, winger Jermaine Johnson and Nathan Doyle, who was on loan," Todd told BBC Sport. "Had we kept our best players then the team would not have suffered. We didn't have money for new signings either. Results weren't going our way but I reckon I could have turned things around. The problem was a few supporters did not like me and voiced their opinions to the chairman. He obviously took note and made the decision."

In better news for City the club revealed yesterday that they have cleared their debt. Bradford's relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2000/01 season saw the club hit hard times. Businessman Mark Lawn has invested in the club and he will be sharing power with Julian Rhodes. Lawn has taken up the position of joint chairman after signing a deal which has wiped out the club's remaining debts. Rhodes has played down talk of the club throwing its weight round financially.

"This last five years has been all about reaching this solvent state and we are finally there. We've got rid of all the debts apart from a small overdraft facility," said Rhodes. "It doesn't mean there's going to be millions of pounds chucked at the team but it does give us a bit more financial stability and allows the resources we do generate within the club to go towards building the team. It's been a tough few years and Mark's involvement will help tremendously because we now have two people supporting the club financially."

Elsewhere in the division transfers have continued. Leicester City boss Martin Allen has brought a trio of backroom staff to the club from his former side MK Dons - including assistant manager Adrian Whitbread. On the playing side Chesterfield have landed experienced defender Kevin Gray. The former Carlisle United player joins the club until June 2008. Macclesfield Town have landed former Lincoln City player Martin Gritton. The striker scored eight times last but was released from the Imps.

Finally Hereford United have lost the services of defender Tamika Mkandawire. The player joins Leyton Orient on a three year deal rejecting the Bull's offer of a one year extension. It was a case of persisting as the O's have seen previous moves for the player fail. Orient manager Martin Ling had a £60,000 bid for the Malawi-born centre-half turned down last summer, but he continued to monitor his progress and Mkandawire says that his new manager's continued interest was a major part of his decision to move to Brisbane Road.

"It's always nice to know that a team wants you and the fact that Orient were still interested a year on from their initial bid was certainly a big factor in me signing," said the defender. "Moving to London is an attraction but it was a football decision for me. It wouldn't have mattered where the team I was going to was as long as it was right for me. I was impressed by what Martin Ling and Dean Smith had to say to me and that's the main reason why I'm here now."