Statement from the chairman

WOW !!
Statements from our Chairman and CEO both within a matter of days there's a novelty
A very well constructed message from Mr Rhodes shame there are not more of them !!
It reads to me that the supporters have to donate somehow to keep the "doors open" quite how we do that is not known yet, and that as a last resort Mr Rupp will prop his own business up (nice of him that) in these times many many business owners are using their own money to keep firms afloat without customer donations and don't have the reported wealth of Mr Rupp
After the seasons we have suffered and Mr Rupps promises of investment because we the fans don't deserve such treatment seems like another hollow promise on the horizon

 

And I'd challenge whether it was indeed self sustainable. We broke even over the period through a combination of 2 exceptional cup runs and a lucrative player sale. Hard work, a balance of risk that paid off - yes: but neither of those events were likely to be repeated on anything like a regular basis. We set out each season with a planned deficit, and it restricted our planning to half season windows at a time.

 

That's so one sided and blinkered that it's frankly embarrassing.

Of course there was a down side, football is cyclical and clearly a club like ours was never going to trouble the elite long term but GR for a few fleeting minutes gave us a dream, the kind of dream that every football fan shares when following a lower league club.

Yes, following that dream was a huge period of lean times but I'm not sure whether you noticed, Bradford City's entire history is filled with lean times. This wasn't a new thing we experienced solely because of GR's mismanagement. We've been in the bottom two divisions for most of our existence so all that happened post GR was that we simply re found our natural position in the pecking order.

The difference being though that under GR we had the good times and after they'd gone he left a legacy. The ground and the facilities at the club for one. The fan base increased and with PL publicity the name and reputation of our club was also increased.

Compare that with the legacy of reaching the Capital one cup final, the victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup and the 2 visits to Wembley in the play offs? Is there one? We even begged the supporters to pay for the changing rooms painting and a new scoreboard.

That would never have happened under Geoffrey Richmond, we'd have seen something very real generated from that type of income. And before you all say "yeah but, he started the decline that took us to league two strugglers", have a good look around, it can't STILL be Geoffrey Richmonds fault can it?

 

And they built much of that success on the cheap season tickets. All made possible by the legacy of the man you refuse to praise.

Tell me though, apart from a better league position which can at least partially be attributed to excellent management what exactly did Lawn and Rhodes leave us?

Some decent sell on clauses for young players. Apart from that I'm struggling.

 

As much as I loved the time under big Geoff they did leave a much better legacy than he did a team that had bettered itself each year for a number of years and compared to most financially healthy

 

A well written and balanced statement from Rhodes, maybe he should try communicating a bit more often.

 

He should. Wonder if he thinks too important to do it.

Anyway, looks like the club is in trouble. Hopefully, we can get through this.

 

Posted a few weeks ago I don’t think the financial situation is as rosy as we were being told. We can’t afford to take players and staff back off the furlough scheme and that’s why I think we are calling for the season to finish.
Rupp will probably put in what he knows he might have a chance to get back in the future?

 

The club employs a spokesperson to communicate and he has on numerous occasions

 

Whilst I have no doubt that this is a well written submission by Julian, is any of the underlying message a surprise, to any of us??

Genuinely, the club was always going to struggle at a time like this. Absolutely inevitable. The whole economy is going to shrink (14% this morning forecasted by BoE, unemployment at around 10%), consumer demand to fall.

The mention of the previous 2 administrations, is not just their for the fun of it. An underlying situation which is very real, in its making??

Have no doubt, costs will be cut. All OOC players will be released on 30th June (subject to furloughing rules).

Welcome yes. Worrying yes. Need of the fan base in the future, yes.

 

You have said most of what I thought with regards our 2 seasons in the Premier, every game we attended with trepidation yes we were mixing with the the big boys at the top table but always wondering if it was going to be a spanking.
As some have already said Big Geoff was marmite with regards his tenure at Valley Parade mostly as myself judging his overall contribution to our demise and how long it took to steady the ship, in hindsight I suppose, they were great that we could boast to the football world little Bradford City were Premier League, would I want Premiership football now I'd say no I'd be more than happy being a good Championship club.
One thing Geoff could not be accused of is lack of ambition with regards Bradford City.

 

Quite right Park and Ryan Sparks has said quite a bit these last weeks including his comprehensive tweet on finances last week.
To quote the old saying "Why have a dog and bark yourself"

 

You can't be a good championship club with doing what Richmond did. And if you're a good championship club the aim is promotion.

 

With respect, in times like this we don't want to hear from the dog. It's unprecedented, we can all see around us the potential economic damage & the real potential damage to Bradford City and whilst, Mr Sparks has communicated most effectively, this Imo calls for leadership from the very top. Not by the dog.

 

Which won't be a lot then. At this minute I don't see how a club like Bradford makes lots of money.

In truth I think Mason was their hope and now they just waste the 14k fans that come through VP. One of the problems is that the club brings the city down in terms of wealth. Making out it has no money but then down spend to improve themselves. They use it as an excuse not to spend.

So, with no fans I just can't see us making too much money.

As for Furlough, it's not going to last forever and the club will need to plan now. Think it will be a massive mistake from the EFL not to get football back this season as the fans and sponsors need to be brought into football behind closed doors.

I don't know, we are in trouble.

 

Ryan Sparks is an employee of the club just as Julian Rhodes is. It’s what is said that matters not who says it

 

Whilst true i am more than certain that one carries more clout than the other. I heard from my line manager and CEO yesterday with regards to the current situation, I can assure you, my attention was much more drawn to the latter.

 

Lazy and cowardly way. CEO needs to communicate with their audience.

I don't care what Ryan has to say. Noise! Pointless, waste of time.

Rhodes and Rupp need to step up more instead of hiding! Glad both have this week.

 

Can't disagree you cant just achieve being a good Championship team without having the ambition of going that extra mile and getting Premiership status.
I dont think we need to worry about either scenario going forward unless of course we got a super rich benefactor.