Fans forum at VP June 11th... and fans are actually in attendance

Might have been lost in translation but not sure how rupp and Gibb have an agreement about the ground yet be miles apart in valuation?

Also Not sure I understand the training ground thing either. Given the comments, I'm assuming he is wanting the council to help identify and fund the training ground as it makes no sense buying and building a training ground outself but not the stadium

 

Think this basically means we know the figure, but it is above what we want to pay/value it at.

 

That's ChatGPT misunderstanding, Sarcevic was mentioned when talking about Cook's injury.

 

We know the price of the ground but Rupp doesn't feel it's worth paying for and the money can be used better elsewhere.

 

ChatGPT probably isn't reading upwards.

Not a good resource for this.

 

re done reading it from bottom to top…

• Kit News: The away kit will be released next, while the home kit won’t come out until early July. Fans asked about being involved in shirt design; the club said ideas like that are under consideration for the future.
• Austria Pre-season Trip: The club confirmed supporters will be welcome at the Austria training camp, with the full schedule to be revealed on Friday.
• Overseas Recruitment: The club is now exploring recruitment abroad, particularly now they’re in League One. They’ve highlighted that they have two international player slots available for non-UK players.
• Player Mentality Matters: Recruitment is increasingly focusing on players with strong mental attributes who can cope with the expectations of playing at Valley Parade. Staff stress the importance of honesty during the recruitment process so players understand the pressures involved.
• Injury Updates: Andy Cook won’t be ready for the start of the season but is progressing well.
• Stadium Improvements: Fans raised concerns about facilities, including concourses and toilets. The club confirmed improvements are underway, and that parts of the stadium, like the Kop, are overdue for updates.
• Loanees & Transfers: The club is still in talks with some loan players (Tayo Adaramola, Jack Shepherd, Brandon Khela), though their parent clubs haven’t made decisions. There’s admiration for their contributions.
• Council & Stadium Ownership Issues: SR and RS addressed frustrations with Bradford Council over lack of support. Fans were encouraged to write to local councillors to push for progress on stadium development and relocation options. (Really?!)
• Ownership Commitment: Owner Stefan Rupp said he’s committed to the club emotionally, not financially. He admitted to learning tough lessons but wants to help write the club’s next chapter and is proud of the progress.
• Forum Conclusion: The event ended with confirmation that the club’s leadership would follow up with further interviews and update.

Still not perfect probably but makes more sense now.

 

So it sounds like the council are yet again being tw@ts regarding the club, never understood why they haven’t done more with the club we have the potential to bring a footfall of nearly 25k people every other week. Madness, yet they support a dying club in a dying sport.

 

Haven't posted in a long old time but in light of everything I have a couple of thoughts to offer:

- we'll see the best of sparks now he has nothing to do with the footballing side, clearly he runs the business well imo. Also props for getting sharpe in and recognising he needed that help, as I doubt that came from rupp.

- Not overly concerned r.e stadium, but positive at least gibb is receptive to offers. If I recall but this was back in the baldwin days that we are on a sliding scale with the rent where it gets better the higher division we are in, but could be different now?

- bradford council yet again not seeing the wood for the trees with bradford city, nothing new there. If they got behind us properly it could do so much good, and might help people not think they are as useless as they often are

- most transfer business has been good (bar slight worries with tilt), but are they in the market for a forward? Cooks had a bad injury and none of the other forwards are exactly goal machines. Concerning to me that theres been no noise on that front but willing to wait and see.

In summary it is so good to finally see us pushing forward as a club and operating properly, some big clubs in this division but I am excited rather than worried as I think we're a match for anyone on our day.

Also my respects to Roger Owens family, great servant to the club and offered a lot of great insight on the forum that we are worse off without. A true gent that will be missed, RIP

 

Yep, Gibb wants £10m, we only prepared to pay £8m (as an example). Its just negotiation and they potentially find a middle ground as the deadline approaches. Either way Gibb will sleep soundly at night as we dont have another option. And Rupp wont lose money on his investment, its an asset which just adds valuation to the club.

I think a new lease will be agreed but hopefully not for 25 years. Maybe 10?

Rupp hit the nail on the head - owning a ground doesnt win promotions. I personally think the money is better invested elsewhere for now.

 

In football parlance, Bradford Council getting behind the club is an open goal at the moment. The club is on the up and with the regeneration work in the centre, Darley Street Market opening, even Bradford Live etc - it's all part of positive change in the city.

I'm not expecting the council to pump in millions, but the club should be seen as part of the long term vision and strategy for the city and supported as such. I still don't get the sense that this is the case, unlike for example Stockport County.

 

Thank you for the summary. That was my understanding too.

SR was also asked if he needed another investor and was pretty emphatic in saying no.

 

If the council are involved with our training ground expect it to take years to complete. It sounds like they cant even get the very basics such as communication right with Sparks.

I dont know if it is arrogance or imcompetance but in every dealing ive had with BCC or LCC the communication has been utterly abysmal. You have to chase, chase and chase again.

Its run by buffoons who wouldnt last 3 months in the private sector.

 

Why all this talk of new training facilities? I thought ours were excellent, better than most other clubs etc etc

 

When will the Council realise , and I do understand unquestionably their financial difficulties , that the only option is to sell landfill rights to Odsal . The sentimentality towards a hole in the ground is nuts when the money generated for decades will supplement the City of Bradford finances therefore reducing pressure on tax payers and government of any colour?

 

I thought it was us , here on the forum said Gibb would want “ around” £10m based on future rental income streams? I haven’t read anywhere that was Gibbs’s actual asking price?

 

Keep the council as far away from us as possible.

 

Just a couple of points on the above.
‘Fans’ asked about being involved in shirt design. It was one fan who asked if supporters could get involved, maybe a kids competition to design the shirt and RS (rightly) quickly said no. When pressed on the matter he said the club would consider (pretty sure they won’t, and it was just said to appease said supporter)

In terms of fans being encourage to lobby the council about training facilities, that was something another (very well articulated) fan suggested after the panel had shared frustrations about the council on the matter. But again, RS took the mic and rephrased that frustration and suggested the council weren’t being as difficult as had been implied but were restricted somewhat by the challenging environment at present