Bradford kicked out of Valley Parade

[Turkey]

Former Bradford chief Gordon Gibb has told BBC Radio Leeds the club will not be at Valley Parade next season.
Gibb, who owns the ground, says Bradford's administrators believe it would be impossible to play at Valley Parade even if it was rent-free.

Funds to keep the club going run out at midnight on Thursday with a decision on the next step for the club expected from the administrators on Friday.

The club have advised their entire playing staff to seek new clubs.

The Bantams - reported to have debts of £36m - cancelled a planned meeting with creditors on Friday.

"For the foreseeable future the club will remain in administration," read a club statement on their website.

"The administrators wish to stress that the news does not mean that the club cannot fulfil its fixtures next season.

"However, to establish this, further meetings with the club's stakeholders will need to be held and it is likely that further cost-cutting measures will have to be made."

Bradford have until 1 June to convince the Football League that they are capable of fulfilling their entire fixture list next season.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

At least they have an alternative within Bradford at Odsal.

Better than having to play 70 miles away

 

[Soton Seagull]

Sad news. If the worst does happen, will an already relegated team stay up?

 

[Trigger]

Will they be allowed to share with Bradford Bulls at Odsal?...

 

[MRRF 10]

another club in deep shit, but why are bradford in such a bad condition?

 

[Turkey]

another club in deep shit, but why are bradford in such a bad condition?

They spent a shite load to get into the Premiership which they couldn't afford.

 

[MRRF 10]

They spent a shite load to get into the Premiership which they couldn't afford.

so they bought it on themselves? still dont want to see a club going through this though, is there any hope for them

 

[Simster]

another club in deep shit, but why are bradford in such a bad condition?

They tried to be "posotive", eh Berkshire

 

[balloonboy]

Odsal looks sacrily like Withdean

 

[Turkey]

Bradford was taken over by Geoffrey Richmond in 1994 and won the Division Two playoffs in 1996. The stayed in Division One, just, for two seasons. Then Richmond decided that the first division was at its "weakest in years" and decided to take a gamble to get into the Premiership - Much like Portsmouth last year. They bought players such as Lee Sharpe. They were promoted on the last day. The following season they stayed up on the last day with a result against Liverpool. They then went CRAZY and spent a shit load - mostly on wages (Carbone etc) and the wage bill went up from £6.79m to £11.33m. It didn't pay off though because they were relegated. It is worth pointing out at this time that Richmond paid himself and fellow directors £7.2m in dividends during the clubs two years in the Premiership - Richmond pocketed over £3m. He justified it by claiming it would attract new investors. The club went into admin because it couldn't pay a £400,000 tax bill - sorta makes those payments look a TAD excessive. No one else would take the players on because they wouldn't touch the rediculous wages. So Bradford were stuck with them. Then ITV Digital went poo-poo and cost the club a possible £3m. When questioned by the Daily Telegraph on the consequences of relegation Richmond said, "There is no financial problem. We are a prudently run club. We have taken steps. As and when we get relegated we go down as a strong club, not like Sheffield Wednesday or Crystal Palace. There are no problems at this club."

 

[lincs seagull]

Troublr is the tossers who put the club in this postion are allowed to go away and take over another club.

Althought Leeds can be any worse shit than they are at the moment

people who do this to clubs should be banned from football clubs but the FA does FA

 

[Yorkie]

Benito Carbone was one reason.

They managed to play the players wages two years ago when they first went into administration by managing to sell his house they had bought for him. It was in the Alwoodley area of Leeds and priced around half a million pounds.

That's the sort of silly spending they were doing.

I know one thing for sure, Huddersfield won't be extending the hand of friendship

 

[fatbadger]

Troublr is the tossers who put the club in this postion are allowed to go away and take over another club.

My concern, too. The club goes without a ground, the fans go in fear of losing their club ... and Robinson can just walk away to carry out the same crap elsewhere. Sod the 10pt deduction - the FA should ban directors of clubs that go into administration - that would be much more effective.

 

[Brovion]

Odsal looks sacrily like Withdean

No it's Horsfall Stadium (where Bradford Park Avenue play) that looks EXACTLY like Withdean. It too is a council-owned Athletics stadium with a running track. Odal looks like Old Trafford in comparison, they've spent a lot of money on it.

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

I remmember they played at odsal after they had the fire for a season or two,infact i think we played there.Did anyone go?

 

[MRRF 10]

No it's Horsfall Stadium (where Bradford Park Avenue play) that looks EXACTLY like Withdean. It too is a council-owned Athletics stadium with a running track. Odal looks like Old Trafford in comparison, they've spent a lot of money on it.

this is the Horsfall stadium

 

[Safeway]

Will they be allowed to share with Bradford Bulls at Odsal?...

According to Five Live that's what they will be doing.

 

[Vicar!]

Yup! I went to Odsal on a rainy night many years ago.

Curious as this happens watching the rise and rise of the now reformed BPA (Park Avenue) who are now in the conference North and could soon become (again) the senior team in Bradford.

Vicar

 

[Turkey]

If they survive. There could be 23 teams in Division 2 next season.

 

[Gwylan]

Odsal looks sacrily like Withdean

Nah, Odsal is a top stadium. At one point it was the biggest in England (bigger than Wembley). I used to watch Bradford Northern there and it was an amazing sight - it's been tarted up since those days though.

Shame about City. I used to watch them when I was a student and Brighton weren't playing in the north. I still retain a bit of a soft spot for them.

Every day that goes by, there's a reminder of how grateful we should be for Dick Knight.