McEvilly says a "number of clubs" showed an interest in him

"I want to say sorry to all the fans that have stood by me. I nearly turned my back on them," he told BBC Sport.

"I hope they understand I wasn't turning my back to join a team in the same league as Wrexham - I wanted to see if I could play at a higher level."

McEvilly signed a new two-year deal with Wrexham on Wednesday after Bradford delayed over a contract offer.

The former Premiership side had concerns over McEvilly's foot, which he broke twice in the same place in the space of four months last season.

Wrexham manager Denis Smith accepted there is an element of risk in giving McEvilly a long-term contract, but said he was confident the striker would come good.

I had a difficult season last season, but hopefully this season I'll be injury free Wrexham striker Lee McEvilly

"Of course it's a gamble signing Lee but it's a gamble that I am more than willing to take," said Smith.

"Lee has proven to me that he can score goals and I am absolutely certain that he will get even better in the future."

McEvilly, though, has rejected any doubts over his fitness by stressing he will be fully fit for the start of the season.

"I had a medical at Bradford and passed it, but they had a concern about my foot," said McEvilly, who scored eight goals in 25 appearances for Wrexham last season after joining from Conference side Accrington Stanley.

"They wanted to see me in training rather than sign on now, so I decided against that and signed for Wrexham.

"It was a big decision, but the gaffer has got a good pedigree in bringing strikers through and maybe he can do that with me.

"I had a difficult season last season, but hopefully this season I'll be injury-free.

"I thought I owed something to the gaffer. If he can get the best out of me, Wrexham will get the best out of me."