Bradford given reprieve

Bradford City were yesterday given the go-ahead to start the coming First Division season – subject to meeting certain financial conditions – after their chairman Geoffrey Richmond agreed to resign.

Richmond is due to be replaced by the projected new co-owners Julian Rhodes, a current director, and Gordon Gibb, a Scotsman who owns the theme park Flamingoland in north Yorkshire.

The Football League has set a deadline of 4pm on Friday for the two men to reach a final agreement over their planned takeover and rescue package following the club being placed into administration.

The League board will also require Bradford to have come to a financial agreement with the Professional Footballers' Association, who have helped them during their recent financial plight.

Richmond, who presided over the summer of 2000 when a string of high-earning players were signed, has seen the error of his ways. The policy backfired when the club were relegated and he admitted that his decision to step down was in the best interests of the club.

"I believe that the supporters of this club are split and I believe that while I am here the fans will remain divided," he said. "I don't believe that would be good for the club going forward. I have always said if such a day arrived when I lost the confidence of a significant number of the supporters of this club, that it would be the right thing for me to walk away. I believe that time has now arrived."

Gibb warned supporters not to expect major signings for at least three years, saying that his priority is to consolidate the club's financial position and their place in the First Division. "I'd love to give a sexy player-acquisition plan but unfortunately the financial constraints are obvious," he said. "We are going to have to react to that and come up with a full strategic review. We have formulated a financial plan and it doesn't involve huge acquisitions over the next three years.

"I apologise to the fans as a result of that. But I'm sure they will understand, accept and give their support to a conservative spending plan versus another administration situation over the short and medium-term. We're here for the long-term. We hope to give the club a viable commercial future and initially that doesn't involve a high-spending strategy."

Gibb, who was not previously a Bradford supporter and has been linked to an interest in York City, added: "What attracted me to the club is that it's a regional business like the one I operate. There are many shared common goals between the leisure industry and Bradford City."