The former England U21 coach Peter Taylor will step down as Bradford City manager, with the Bantams perilously close to the League Two relegation zone.

The former England U21 coach Peter Taylor will step down as Bradford City manager, with the Bantams perilously close to the League Two relegation zone.

Taylor, 58, announced the news after meeting with the club's joint chairman Julian Rhodes on Wednesday.

The Yorkshire side are 21st in the table, six points above the relegation zone. They have won just once in their last nine games.

Taylor had been in charge at Valley Parade since last February, when he replaced Stuart McCall.

He famously appointed David Beckham as captain when made caretaker manager of the senior England team in November 2000: a 1-0 loss to Italy in Turin.

He coached the U21 side from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2004 until 2007.