Bradford City boss on Carlisle United manager's Jake Young comments

Alexander says Young is not for sale - and also said he was "disappointed" Simpson spoke publicly about the striker.

The Blues boss, responding to a question from the News & Star after Tuesday's League One defeat at Barnsley, said Young was a player of interest but Bradford had quoted a "ridiculous" price.

Bantams boss Alexander, speaking to the Telegraph & Argus today, claimed it was "completely wrong" for United's boss to have discussed another club's player in such a way.

“Plain and simple, it's wrong," he said.

"I didn't speak about Jake and he was our player when he was on loan, out of respect for him doing a job for Swindon.

"I spoke to them about him but I didn't want to.”

Alexander said he had made his feelings about Young clear in a recent conversation with Simpson.

“I told him my thoughts on Jake, that I didn't want to sell him. I couldn't have been any clearer than that," he said.

"It's straight after the game [on Tuesday] and I know emotions can be high, I've been there myself, but there are certain things where it's not an excuse.

Jake Young, right (Image: PA)

"It's disappointing from my perspective because I spoke to the manager myself about Jake.

"Is there an agenda behind it? Potentially, about letting a player know.

"I don't think he has any right at all to set a price on any other team's player, to be honest, so I didn't really get where he was coming from.

"But I was quite clear with him in my conversation. We crack on.

"We're all grown adults and it's a country of free speech but that's how it is.”

Alexander, whose club sold goalkeeper Harry Lewis to Carlisle earlier this month, added that he had had a conversation with Young where he explained the 22-year-old was part of his plans.

"I don't think it was particularly disruptive to Jake because I think he knows for sure how highly we rate and value him," added the League Two club's manager.

"I'd told him to his face anyway but maybe that proves the point even more.

"He [Simpson] might have done me a favour, I don't know!"

Young has impressed with 16 goals on loan at Swindon in the first half of this season. Alexander said injury had kept the forward out of Bradford's squad to face Colchester United upon his return to Valley Parade last week.

Should Young play for his parent club he would not be able to play for another league club this season.