Open Letter to Ryan Sparks

JonButterfield · Jan 27, 2024

Dear Ryan Sparks,

Let us recognise that you have done a good job in terms of leading the commercial side of Bradford City Football Club. You have formed a solid team that has overseen some good quality partnerships, made stadium improvements funded by sponsors, and your efforts in this regard are, I’m sure, appreciated by Bradford City fans.

However, what fans want most is success on the pitch. You have been unable to deliver this, and the closest we have come to promotion was via the appointment of Mark Hughes via a fortunate twist of fate that saw you spot his email expressing interest in your spam folder. I believe Hughes was the right appointment, and he brought us close to League One football – which is where we ought to be as a bare minimum.

Unfortunately, things did not work out this season with Hughes, and it was with regret that he had to go – despite the fact that he had provided the building blocks for the next manager to work with, so long as they carried on the legacy of his work, making the necessary tweaks and improvements to our tactics and play, and thus turning draws into wins.

As with many of your managerial appointments, the hiring of Graham Alexander was farcical and naïve. Graham had no intention of continuing the work of Mark Hughes, had no intention of making tweaks, and – as many of us could see from his time at MK Dons – represented a complete 180 in terms of tactics and style of play. We are now paying the price for what was a rather inevitable-looking error of judgement. This error of judgement isn’t a one off. This error of judgement has been repeated throughout your tenure as CEO. Each managerial appointment has felt either panicked, unsuitable, or, in the case of Hughes, a fluke.

We all know that Graham was not first choice. That we were turned down at the last minute by Danny Cowley, supposedly for geographical reasons, is unacceptable and a huge red flag to the fans. Something is badly wrong at Bradford City if we are being shunned like this, and the absolute lack of a plan is more than apparent. ‘Just hire a manager’ is not a plan that will ever be effective in such a competitive field.

In Apocalypse Now, when Willard finally tracks down Kurtz in order to ‘terminate his command’, Kurtz asks Willard ‘Are my methods unsound?’ to which Willard responds: ‘I don’t see any method at all, sir’.

In terms of your decisions and appointments, Ryan, I am afraid, like Willard, I don’t see any method at all. From discussing the importance of young players, then immediately appointing Derek Adams who had zero interest in our young players, to performing a U-turn stylistically and tactically with each and every managerial appointment, it seems you don’t have a method or a plan to turn this club’s fortunes around.

You are not the right man for this job, and results reflect this.

I do not blame you for your own appointment. The appointment made was unfair on you. You were not equipped with the experience required to take on such a massive role at such a huge club. Julian Rhodes can take the blame for that, and Stefan Rupp for (as always) not knowing any better. The blind faith of these two men landed you in a position unsuitable to your ability, but still reflects extremely well on you as a professional.

You can still make the most of this. You have been CEO of Bradford City. You are now on the CEO pathway, hopefully for life, and huge credit to you. Now is the time to pursue such positions elsewhere.

I ask you to step down immediately from your role as CEO of Bradford City Football Club, and force our absent owner into making an appointment of an experienced, talented, and knowledgeable CEO that we, the fans, deserve (or, preferably, sell the club at a realistic price).

Thank you for your services, Ryan, but it is time to go. Bradford City sit in 18th position in League Two, which is way below mediocre – and you have always promised you would not tolerate mediocrity. Hopefully that extends to your own performance.

Regards,

Jon Butterfield

bantamdave41 · Jan 27, 2024

He won't answer. Happens quite often

ahar964 · Jan 27, 2024

JonButterfield said: ↑

Dear Ryan Sparks,

Let us recognise that you have done a good job in terms of leading the commercial side of Bradford City Football Club. You have formed a solid team that has overseen some good quality partnerships, made stadium improvements funded by sponsors, and your efforts in this regard are, I’m sure, appreciated by Bradford City fans.

However, what fans want most is success on the pitch. You have been unable to deliver this, and the closest we have come to promotion was via the appointment of Mark Hughes via a fortunate twist of fate that saw you spot his email expressing interest in your spam folder. I believe Hughes was the right appointment, and he brought us close to League One football – which is where we ought to be as a bare minimum.

Unfortunately, things did not work out this season with Hughes, and it was with regret that he had to go – despite the fact that he had provided the building blocks for the next manager to work with, so long as they carried on the legacy of his work, making the necessary tweaks and improvements to our tactics and play, and thus turning draws into wins.

As with many of your managerial appointments, the hiring of Graham Alexander was farcical and naïve. Graham had no intention of continuing the work of Mark Hughes, had no intention of making tweaks, and – as many of us could see from his time at MK Dons – represented a complete 180 in terms of tactics and style of play. We are now paying the price for what was a rather inevitable-looking error of judgement. This error of judgement isn’t a one off. This error of judgement has been repeated throughout your tenure as CEO. Each managerial appointment has felt either panicked, unsuitable, or, in the case of Hughes, a fluke.

We all know that Graham was not first choice. That we were turned down at the last minute by Danny Cowley, supposedly for geographical reasons, is unacceptable and a huge red flag to the fans. Something is badly wrong at Bradford City if we are being shunned like this, and the absolute lack of a plan is more than apparent. ‘Just hire a manager’ is not a plan that will ever be effective in such a competitive field.

In Apocalypse Now, when Willard finally tracks down Kurtz in order to ‘terminate his command’, Kurtz asks Willard ‘Are my methods unsound?’ to which Willard responds: ‘I don’t see any method at all, sir’.

In terms of your decisions and appointments, Ryan, I am afraid, like Willard, I don’t see any method at all. From discussing the importance of young players, then immediately appointing Derek Adams who had zero interest in our young players, to performing a U-turn stylistically and tactically with each and every managerial appointment, it seems you don’t have a method or a plan to turn this club’s fortunes around.

You are not the right man for this job, and results reflect this.

I do not blame you for your own appointment. The appointment made was unfair on you. You were not equipped with the experience required to take on such a massive role at such a huge club. Julian Rhodes can take the blame for that, and Stefan Rupp for (as always) not knowing any better. The blind faith of these two men landed you in a position unsuitable to your ability, but still reflects extremely well on you as a professional.

You can still make the most of this. You have been CEO of Bradford City. You are now on the CEO pathway, hopefully for life, and huge credit to you. Now is the time to pursue such positions elsewhere.

I ask you to step down immediately from your role as CEO of Bradford City Football Club, and force our absent owner into making an appointment of an experienced, talented, and knowledgeable CEO that we, the fans, deserve (or, preferably, sell the club at a realistic price).

Thank you for your services, Ryan, but it is time to go. Bradford City sit in 18th position in League Two, which is way below mediocre – and you have always promised you would not tolerate mediocrity. Hopefully that extends to your own performance.

Regards,

Jon Butterfield
Click to expand...

You're gonna need a big plane to drag that

Rcbantam · Jan 27, 2024

fecking hell...

Straight to the point... feck off, the end

bantam65 · Jan 27, 2024

Just make sure it's addressed to his spam folder.....more chance of him seeing it there.

Super bantams · Jan 27, 2024

bantam65 said: ↑

Just make sure it's addressed to his spam folder.....more chance of him seeing it there.
Click to expand...

Get to his spam and your his new CEO replacement

Andyone · Jan 27, 2024

It's getting to the point where there's no positives to spin for him. The only glimmer is getting to Wembley. Failing that there's nothing. Zilch. How he beats the drum to stir up enthusiasm for next season's ticket push we'll wait and see

JonButterfield · Jan 27, 2024

Andyone said: ↑

It's getting to the point where there's no positives to spin for him. The only glimmer is getting to Wembley. Failing that there's nothing. Zilch. How he beats the drum to stir up enthusiasm for next season's ticket push we'll wait and see
Click to expand...

Precisely what I don't want, haha, but yes, very much agree with you Andy.

Faithful Bantam · Jan 27, 2024

Has he even done a good job commercially?

Anyway, it's nothing personal and you can't blame a young lad for having a go when being gifted a CEO gig, regardless of him not being qualified for or having earned it. You have to grab opportunities when they open up. That's all fair enough.

But this isn't a vehicle for his vanity, or personal status. He's not cut out for it and at this point, not acting is a vote of self interest at the expense of the club because its clearly failing.

Your first duty as CEO is to act in the best interests of the business you're accountable for, not to act out of self presentation.

Do the right thing, before it inevitably starts to become more personal, which surely no one wants?

Dennis · Jan 27, 2024

I have serious doubts that he would ever resign of his own accord. I hope I'm wrong but I would never consider that he was sufficiently honourable in that way. I could never imagine him reacting to fans' criticism in that way ever despite what many of us might want. His ego wouldn't allow it.

The only real alternative would be for him to be sacked by Rupp. However from Rupp's perspective, he's doing a good job. The club is stable financially, it's sustainable in the immediate future and he's avoiding Rupp having to dip into his own pockets. All of the crap he speaks about not accepting mediocrity or not getting promoted being regarded as failure or extolling the quality of the players recruited in the transfer windows is just bullshit. Most fans know that and see through it but it's all of secondary importance from Rupp's viewpoint.

As we encroach closer to the relegation zone, Rupp might realise that things are slipping out of his control and possibly change things. But until that happens, Sparks is out of the firing ljne.

BennyTheKing · Jan 27, 2024

Well let’s see the social media puppet accounts controlled by Sparks come on here and respond to that grenade. Well played!

Faithful Bantam · Jan 27, 2024

Dennis said: ↑

I have serious doubts that he would ever resign of his own accord. I hope I'm wrong but I would never consider that he was sufficiently honourable in that way. I could never imagine him reacting to fans' criticism in that way ever despite what many of us might want.

The only real alternative would be for him to be sacked by Rupp. However from Rupp's perspective, he's doing a good job. The club is stable financially, it's sustainable in the immediate future and he's avoiding Rupp having to dip into his own pockets. All of the crap he speaks about not accepting mediocrity or not getting promoted being regarded as failure or extolling the quality of the players recruited in the transfer windows is just bullshit. Most fans know that but it's all of secondary importance from Rupp's viewpoint.

As we encroach closer to the relegation zone, Rupp might realise that things are slipping out of his control and possibly change things. But until that happens, Sparks is out of the firing ljne.
Click to expand...

Sadly I agree. He lacks humility and self awareness and the increasing criticism is more likely to see him become increasingly defensive and fuel his disdain for what he sees as a fickle element.

Goose · Jan 27, 2024

Even if he sees this his ego will force him to just laugh at it and mimic you in a cartoon voice

borderlescott · Jan 27, 2024

Redesigning the badge, which nobody wanted redesigning, was one of his best ideas.

JonButterfield · Jan 27, 2024

borderlescott said: ↑

Redesigning the badge, which nobody wanted redesigning, was one of his best ideas.
Click to expand...

Legit LOL moment

Fordy117 · Jan 27, 2024

Dennis said: ↑

I have serious doubts that he would ever resign of his own accord. I hope I'm wrong but I would never consider that he was sufficiently honourable in that way. I could never imagine him reacting to fans' criticism in that way ever despite what many of us might want. His ego wouldn't allow it.

The only real alternative would be for him to be sacked by Rupp. However from Rupp's perspective, he's doing a good job. The club is stable financially, it's sustainable in the immediate future and he's avoiding Rupp having to dip into his own pockets. All of the crap he speaks about not accepting mediocrity or not getting promoted being regarded as failure or extolling the quality of the players recruited in the transfer windows is just bullshit. Most fans know that and see through it but it's all of secondary importance from Rupp's viewpoint.

As we encroach closer to the relegation zone, Rupp might realise that things are slipping out of his control and possibly change things. But until that happens, Sparks is out of the firing ljne.
Click to expand...

And this is why this club will just continue to fail.

No one at the top cares about the fans. We are all mugs! Why are we spending our money on this joke of a club when Soarks won’t do the right thing which is to step down and make Rupp start having an active role to recruit a CEO.

This club is dead! Needs to be waken up and that happens if Soarks resigns or is sacked!

BCFCNW39 · Jan 27, 2024

This is going to get me some serious
Pelters but f@£k it.

do you ever feel like we as a fanbase have played an integral role in the situation we find ourselves in now?
I’ve read 4/5 posts on here, WOAP and the T&A about how we as a fan base are long suffering but are we not guilty of causing the toxicity.

for the record I don’t believe Sparks is up to it, but we as a fanbase can be so, so bad at causing an ill feeling around the club. Hughes was sacked early in the season just a few points off the play-offs, the reason being, was the fans turning on him. The reaction after Tranmere was horrendous and over the top. “Fans” threatening to not renew season tickets and complaining about the style of football and the man who led us to a playoff finish was shown the door.
The level of complaining about keeping the ball was insane and Sparks buckled and brought in a more direct manager to appease the “get it forward” brigade. Not being funny but I’d rather watch my Dad in the bath than the s@“t that’s being served up now.

the way this club has been “supported” since relegation has been incredibly negative, even during last season, which now looking back on it I miss terribly.

All well and good getting rid of Sparks and Rupp but what happens when we aren’t top of the league immediately after the CEO/Owner is put in place? You think booing at half time and whinging at every sideways pass won’t affect the players because the people at the top are deemed competent?

Keefly Bantam · Jan 27, 2024

BCFCNW39 said: ↑

This is going to get me some serious
Pelters but f@£k it.

do you ever feel like we as a fanbase have played an integral role in the situation we find ourselves in now?
I’ve read 4/5 posts on here, WOAP and the T&A about how we as a fan base are long suffering but are we not guilty of causing the toxicity.

for the record I don’t believe Sparks is up to it, but we as a fanbase can be so, so bad at causing an ill feeling around the club. Hughes was sacked early in the season just a few points off the play-offs, the reason being, was the fans turning on him. The reaction after Tranmere was horrendous and over the top. “Fans” threatening to not renew season tickets and complaining about the style of football and the man who led us to a playoff finish was shown the door.
The level of complaining about keeping the ball was insane and Sparks buckled and brought in a more direct manager to appease the “get it forward” brigade. Not being funny but I’d rather watch my Dad in the bath than the s@“t that’s being served up now.

the way this club has been “supported” since relegation has been incredibly negative, even during last season, which now looking back on it I miss terribly.

All well and good getting rid of Sparks and Rupp but what happens when we aren’t top of the league immediately after the CEO/Owner is put in place? You think booing at half time and whinging at every sideways pass won’t affect the players because the people at the top are deemed competent?
Click to expand...

Cool story bro.

Petrov · Jan 27, 2024

BCFCNW39 said: ↑

This is going to get me some serious
Pelters but f@£k it.

do you ever feel like we as a fanbase have played an integral role in the situation we find ourselves in now?
I’ve read 4/5 posts on here, WOAP and the T&A about how we as a fan base are long suffering but are we not guilty of causing the toxicity.

for the record I don’t believe Sparks is up to it, but we as a fanbase can be so, so bad at causing an ill feeling around the club. Hughes was sacked early in the season just a few points off the play-offs, the reason being, was the fans turning on him. The reaction after Tranmere was horrendous and over the top. “Fans” threatening to not renew season tickets and complaining about the style of football and the man who led us to a playoff finish was shown the door.
The level of complaining about keeping the ball was insane and Sparks buckled and brought in a more direct manager to appease the “get it forward” brigade. Not being funny but I’d rather watch my Dad in the bath than the s@“t that’s being served up now.

the way this club has been “supported” since relegation has been incredibly negative, even during last season, which now looking back on it I miss terribly.

All well and good getting rid of Sparks and Rupp but what happens when we aren’t top of the league immediately after the CEO/Owner is put in place? You think booing at half time and whinging at every sideways pass won’t affect the players because the people at the top are deemed competent?
Click to expand...

Clap harder ffs.

vin weasel · Jan 27, 2024

When is that fans forum??
Read that to him at that

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