Despite not having a management job since leaving the club, he believes the current position is very similar to when he took over in December 1991 and he would love a second crack at the role.

"It would be nice to go back there, " he said. "It's not so much a case of wanting to finish the job, but the situation now is fairly similar to when I came in before.

"People say you shouldn't go back but I put two-and-ahalf years into the club. I put in a lot of time with very limited resources and you never forget the fact you were sacked.

"I just felt I wasn't really given the chance to see the job through. We were very much a selling club and once the then-chairman came in, I knew Geoffrey Richmond was always waiting to make his own appointment.

"Obviously the whole place is different now and the directors have changed but, because of my association with the club before, I would love to have the chance to get involved again."

Stapleton appointed Todd as his assistant when he took charge at Valley Parade.

"Colin had been out of the game and was keen to get involved again. He had experience of managing and being a coach and that did help me in the first six months.

"The most important thing was to keep us up, which we did, but it was always a difficult situation because we still had to sell players."

After being fired by City, Stapleton took up coaching roles with QPR and in America at the launch of the MSL.

He also worked as Bolton's attacking coach before concentrating on a media role over the last three years.

But the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker has kept a close eye on the Bantams' fortunes. He admits it has made for grim watching.

Stapleton, who played 71 times for the Republic of Ireland and scored 20 goals added, "They have quickly gone down the league and you do get in a bit of a rut.

We're not just talking about a couple of bad results but quite a few . . . three wins in 20 games is a very poor run."