Friday 31 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law goes for youth as Littlejohn turns down move

Adrian Littlejohn has turned down the chance to join City, obviously had plans to go to Meadowhall this weekend or put up some tasteful Ikea shelving perhaps, leaving Nicky Law to build an attack out of Ashley Ward and the clubs youngsters.

When Law tried to sign 32 year old Littlejohn we were unimpressed at BfB and suggested that City's manager should give the kids a chance. After all if the future of tis club is about bringing through our own talent it seems crazy to field a non contract player while leaving the kids out.

Danny Forrest, who made his debut agianst Wrexham in the League cup, is favourite to get closest to the action. He is joined in the senior squad by Kevin Sanasy and Daniel Ekoku of family Ekoku that gave us of Efan and Abi.

Craig Fishlock could also make his debut for City while Lewis Emanuel, who was reported to be out long term, seems to have crept into Law's match day squad. For the record Daniel Ekoku is City's highest numbered player taking the first Bantam 40 shirt. Sanasy gets 39.

Out of adminisration

The High Court have lifted the Administration Order that City went under last May. Reports that said order had the words Bradford City tippexed out and the name of anothe West Yorkshire side written in are, of course, a big fat lie.

City sign new keeper

Nicky Law has acted quickly to replace injured Nicky Beach as bench sitting keeper for the Bantams by signing unknown Dane Stefan Magnusson. Magnusson was released by FC Farum at the end of last season and his joined the Bantams until the end of the season. The Danes international clearance has come through meaning that he will start his Bantam career on the bench against Ipswich. Magnusson takes the 30 shirt previously worn by Danny Taylor, Simon Grayson and the evil David Hopkin.

Less on Jamie

City are closed mouthed on why Jamie Lawrence suffered a triple fracture of his cheekbone. All that is known that it was on Saturday night in Leeds after the win over Grimsby. Nicky Law typified the secrecy over the situation say "Jamie sustained that injury away from the football club but I can't go into it further than that."

Without giving away the big secret Law did say "Jamie's got a triple fracture of the cheekbone. He's been to see the specialist and his opinion is that Jamie isn't fit to train or play. He will go back in a week's time when the specialist will re-assess it and decide if he will need an operation. If he does, and the bone needs plating, it will be a six to eight-week job.

Cadamarteri on his injury

Danny Cadamarteri has spoken about his injury saying "I am taking it day by day. Some mornings it's fine but on others the knee can be a bit sore and achy, although I don't know if that's down to the cold weather. I had a bit of a setback last week so it just felt good to get back playing on grass again and in a competitive match. It's coming on and getting a lot stronger. I'm still working on rehab in the Yorkshire Clinic so that's helped me. The specialist has already told me that after matches it's going to be a little bit sore for a few weeks if not for a bit longer. But as long as I don't have too much of a bad reaction it should be fine."

Thursday 30 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Jamie out for a month

Jamie Lawrence is out for a month after "an incident away from the club" left him nursing a broken cheekbone. City are staying tight lipped on what has happened to Lawrence but it seems very unlikley that the players move to Walsall will come to pass until he is fit. The injury leaves Nicky Law cronically short of central midfield players with Paul Evans out on loan and Peter Atherton suspended for Saturday.

Littlejohn joins on week to week contract

Nicky Law has signed Adrian Littlejohn, who is currently without a club, on a week to week contract to cover Andy Gray's role on Saturday. Quite why Law, who puts such a store in youth and young players, would bring in a 32 year old when he has Mark Danks, Danny Forrest and Kevin Sanasy all looking for a shot in the first team, is anyones guess. Certainly Law was not saying but oddly Gordon Gibb said spoke for his manager saying "We had Littlejohn watched in a practice match on Wednesday and received good reports. He will be helping us out on Saturday, although I don't know if he will be in the team or on the bench. We're signing him on a week-to-week basis although if he does the job, there is a chance we might agree something longer."

New keeper crisis as reserves lose to Everton

City played 5 minutes without a proper keeper in last night's reserve game against Everton. Nicky Beach was left in agony with a badly-damaged ankle by a horror show challenge by Everton's Kevin McLeod. McLeod was sent off for his troubles and City put promising centrehalf and skipper Robert Morgan in goal. Danny Cadamarteri got a seventy minute run out and has so far reported no problems. City's goal came from a 25 yard free kick from Juanjo, who obvioulsy saves the good stuff for a Wednesday night in Widnes. Everton included Niclas Alexandersson who scored the goal that put City out of the Premiership two yeras ago although those that saw the game would point to Robbie Blake and Benito Carbone's missed penalties.

All of which leaves City with only Aidan Davison as a fit goalkeeper at the club with Gary Walsh recouperating very slowly and stand in Andy Tod having joined Dundee United on loan. Nicky Law previoulsy called in Dave Beasent to bench sit for the Bantams and unless a simialr signing is made City will go into Saturday's game with Ipswich with five outfield players on the bench.

Canadian international comes on trial

City are giving a trial to Feyenoord's Canadian international holding midfielder and centreback Brad Parker. Parker told The Pulse of his ambitions in football saying "It's always been a dream since I was a little boy to play in England. I've got some contacts here and I heard Bradford City needed some help, so I'm glad to be available and we'll see what happens. The game here's a little bit quicker but there's times when the football isn't as good as in Holland. There's more emphasis here on speed and power but there's not much difference overall."

All aboot Brad Parker

Parker has eight senior caps as well as honours at u17, u20, u23 and B levels. He made his international debut against Macedonia but fell out of favour when he withdrawed from the Olympic team owing to pressure from his club. He was born in Toronto and signed for Feyenoord in 1998 after being tracked by Newcastle and Ajax. Was on a season long loan to Molenbeek om 2000-2001.

Law looking at two loans

Julian Rhodes has confirmed that Nicky Law is looking at bringing in two more loan players saying "There will be a budget available although it's not going to be every penny that we save. That would defeat the object. Nicky has given us a list of people he wants and there are some good names on it." The funds available come from Andy Tod and Paul Evans going on loan.

Roland asks the question on Leeds

Our favourite oik Roland Harris writes from University with the question we are all asking: How enjoyable is it to see Leeds United going down the pan?

Tod on his way back?

Dundee United, who signed Andy Tod on loan from City last week, have sacked manager Paul Hegarty leading to obvious questions about Tod's stay at Tannadice. Dundee United have pinched former Bantam left winger Ian McCall from Falkirk to be the new boss.

Wednesday 29 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bob: "I'm no cheat"

Robert Molenaar has blasted back at Grimsby Town thug/forward Steve Livingstone who was sent off for whacking the Dutchman on saturday. Livingstone said "I told him after the game that I thought he was a cheat. I tried to get past him and the next thing I heard was a squeal. I feel like I've been cheated and that the club has been cheated. There was no contact at all and he milked it."

A not too happy Molenaar retorted "Players who know me will know that I would never do a thing like that. If that's his opinion then that's fine. The only thing I know is that I was hit by an elbow. It didn't take my eye out and I'm not walking round with my head wrapped in a bandage. But I certainly did not try to cheat."

Bob continued "The referee [Mark Clattenburg] was near to the incident and had a perfect view. If I had been milking it, as the other player said, then I would have been punished for it. I can understand Grimsby's frustration because they are in a similar situation to us. Obviously they didn't get the points and the sending-off did change the game. This does surprise me a little bit because this is not something in my nature. I want to win everything fair and square. If Grimsby don't believe that then that's up to them."

Ginger Grimbo Gaffer Paul Groves backpaddled on Livingstones "I never touched him Guv" comments saying "If there was any contact, and that's an if, then it was minimal. My thoughts are going to be irrelevant because it comes down to the referee. But it certainly wasn't an elbow that was brought back and belted into his face." BfB does not believe that a player had to have a broken cheekbone for an elbowing offence to be committed. It's about the offence, not the damage done by the offence and even if a player swipes with his arm and misses the offence is still committed. However we do have some sympathy for Grimsby. The he said/she said stuff of sednings off these days, as seen at City during the game with Burnley at Valley Parade when Danny Cadamarteri was sent off for an alledged elobow, is seems to have little relvance on the out come of post match dicipline. Cadamarteri's sending off stood yet Adam Murray of Derby almost cut Mark Bower in half and had his red card overturned eariler in the season at Valley Parade. Grimsby might get their appeal upheld, it seems a random process, but as with Murray and Cadamarteri it will not be a reflection of the basic fact as to whether an offence was committed.

Gibb paying the mortgage

Gordon Gibb has finalising the payment scheme for Lombards in respect to the outstanding £6.3m of the Sunwin Stand mortgage. Gibb's proposal to the company will detail a number of alternative ways of paying back the money which now includes a further £350,000 instalment from January which was unpaid.

Tuesday 28 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Tod leaves on loan

Andy Tod has joined Dundee United on loan until the end of the season. Tod cannot play for City without the Bantams being liable to a payment of £25,000 to Dunfermline. Dundee United boss Paul Hegarty said "I'm delighted that we have been able to sign two very experienced defenders. There's no doubt that our defence needs strengthening and I feel that these two players will give me more options in that."

Cadamarteri to start for Reserves

Danny Cadamarteri will start for City's reserves on Wednesday night at his old stomping ground of Widnes, home of Everton reserves. Cadamarteri resumed light training following the problem with tendinitis in his knee which has kept him out since November which Steve Redmond commenting "Danny will probably have a little bit of something there for a few weeks and when he plays a game he won't be able to train the day after. But that is the case with other players like Craig Bellamy and it's just a case of striking the right balance. It's understandable people get jittery when he has a slight setback and feel we should do something. If a player has surgery then it puts everyone's mind at rest but we are seeing if it will clear up with rehabilitation. Danny did some light training yesterday and all being well he could play some part for the reserves, maybe for a half."

Monday 27 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law wants two more loan deals

Nicky Law would like to bring in two more short term/loan players before the end of the season after freeing up some cash with the immanent departures of Andy Tod and Jamie Lawrence and Paul Evans' loan deal. Law said "I've got two loans left and I've got to be careful because there is not a great deal of money but I've tried to generate some cash the only way I can. Getting Paul Evans out for a month and with Tody going back to Scotland, hopefully that will free enough money so I can get a couple of players in on three-month deals to the end of the season. I need them to be that long because otherwise I'm going to be in the same position in a month's time with no loans left."

On Jamie Lawrence's departure Nicky was less sure "I spoke to their manager last week and he was under the impression it wouldn't happen because they couldn't finance the deal. But obviously they've won in the FA Cup but hopefully they won't come back with a bit more money. I understand from the financial implications that Jamie may have to go although from my point of view I don't want to lose him."

Was it worth it? Nicky Law's short termers this term
Jorgi on beating Grimsby

Grimsby goal hero Claus Jorgensen reflected on thje "When you're at the bottom you can feel hard done by but we've got big enough characters not to fall into that trap. With a bit of luck we could have had it in the bag earlier but we just kept going. I don't know if we had to be dragged right down the bottom of the table to start realising it was serious, but beating Grimsby takes some pressure off. We have to stay focused about it, we are still only in January. We're on 31 points and 50 is the target so there is a long way to go."

In the humble opinion of columnist Michael Wood Jorgi, who has scored in City's last four games, is should head up the next generation of Bantams.

Everyone else on beating Grimsby

The win over Grimsby is being seen a the big step to survival in the division with the Bantams now only 19 points off the target of 50. Nicky Law was pleased saying "If we had lost it would not have been the end of the season but it was crucial that we won, We now have a six-point cushion between ourselves and Grimsby. It takes the pressure off us for a short while. It will be a fantastic achievement if we do survive because of the injuries we have had and the financial implications at this club."

The sending off of Steve Livingstone, a man who BfB ran into getting chucked out of New Look in Freshney Place, Grimsby some six years ago, for his attack on Robert Molenaar. The managers had opposing views of course with Law saying "I saw the ref and he said there was a fair challenge to Livingstone which led to the Grimsby player having the cut on his nose, Livingstone then put his forearm into Bob's face. It was a definite sending-off." Grimsby boss Paul Groves sounded like a defeated man saying "The defeat is hard to stomach when it comes in the last minute of the game. We had managed to frustrate them in the second half. It was not going to be pretty but we tried to play at the right time and I thought we deserved something. The sending-off definitely had a bearing on the game."

Steve Livingstone has his own comments on the subject saying "I'll be doing everything [to have the red card removed] I can because there was no way I should have been sent off, it's as simple as that. We'll do everything we can as a club to appeal against that. We should be getting the video evidence and hopefully that should show something. I told him after the game that I thought he was a cheat. He said that he didn't cheat and that I had touched him with my arm. He made a big deal of it and I'm disgusted with his reaction. I wasn't even expecting a booking but before I knew it the referee was there with the red. It was him running into me more than anything and I just helped him on his way as he fell. He squealed, and the card was out."

Andy Gray, who puts Ashley Ward to shame considering one is a right winger filling in and the other £18k a week of Premiership striker, said "We'd have been hanging ourselves if we'd only got a draw."

BfB says this. If you lose to Grimsby Town at home you have no business being in the First Division, if you win at Grimsby's freezing Hell hole then you are on the right track for getting out of it.

Carbone takes it out on Roma

Perhaps it was the sight of claret and amber that angered City's former Italian start Benito Carbone to such an extent that the tiny playmaker turned in the performance of the season when bottom of the league Como beat AS Roma 2-0 with Beni getting a goal in the last minute. If you can read Italian read what the Roma site says or what Como say and remember the glory of Benito

Evans called up

Paul Evans has been named in the Wales squad for the friendly against Bosnia on 12 February in Cardiff.

92 club interviews

The BBC are sending a man around every ground in the country. He visited City just after the summer and interviewed Lenny, Gordon Gibb and Mike Harrision.

Sunday 26 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Kearney wants to play before May

City's missing man Tom Kearney wants to get games under his belt before the end of the season after stepping up his recovery from injury at national rehabilitation centre at Lilleshall. Kearney, who impressed City fan's with his attitude and displays toward the end of last year and start of this said "Even if it's just a Reserve game that wouldn't matter. It would give me peace of mind being able to go out on a pitch and play again. Obviously I'm not going to be stupid about it but just to get back would be great. There are four months left of the season and everything seems to be going smoothly for me. I feel like I'm past halfway now, The six weeks between doing the injury and having the operation were the worst period but that's in the past now and I feel I'm making real progress. The time seems to be speeding up as it goes along. I'm just concentrating on getting back on the field again and I can see it getting nearer."

Saturday 25 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

City earn a breather

Late Jorgi strike gives City 2-1 win at Grimsby

A late 25 yarder from Claus Jorgensen gave City a 2-1 win away at Grimsby after Andy Gray had equalised a first half Mariners goal.

Tod to join Dundee United, Sheron deal dead

Andy Tod will sign for Dundee United on Monday ending his limbo at City after the club ran out of money to pay him. Shaun Harvey described the deal as "A solution that will suit everyone. The situation wasn't doing anyone any good. He came to us from Scotland so he knows the Premier League well. This is a chance for him to play regular first-team football again and then we will see what develops."

BfB has always had problems with Tod. After Jim Jefferies brought him in on loan it was clear that he was a player of limited ability, the kind of player than can be picked up on a free transfer now, but Jefferies agreed to pay around £250,000 for the defender/striker. Tod shows enthusiasm and is useful but the was never worth the money the club paid for him or paid him and one feels that now the cash would be better used on another or even on clearing the debt.

However the deal would seem to suggest that Tod's swap with Mike Sheron of Barnsley has fallen through.

Farewell Mr Lawrence

Despite being in line to play against Grimsby Jamie Lawrence is tipped to make a free transfer switch to Walsall next week as City get rid of another big earner. Many City fans will be sad to see Lawrence, a real 100%er and one of the key men in the promotion season, leave the club but realistically he is not a great loss to City. Approaching 33 Lawrence is getting old to be a winger and although he would like to think of himself as able to make a John Barnes-esque switch to inside midfield BfB might suggest that he lacks the positional sense and the discipline to play such a role.

If sense prevails then any money saved will be used to sign up Claus Jorgensen past the end of the season with an eye to pairing him with Tom Kearney in the midfield in 2003/2004. Lawrence's departure will open the central midfield up for a Peter Atherton/Jorgensen partnership with Michael Standing on the right hand side of midfield and Atherton's central defensive role being taken by either Mark Bower or, once fit, David Wetherall. Returning forward Danny Cadamarteri may be pressed into service on the left wing should Mike Sheron sign and Lewis Emanuel not race back to fitness.

Such team juggling should not take away from the glory of Jamie Lawrence during his time at City. A £50,000 signing from Leicester City who had served time for armed robbery and arrived at VP with much derided "Pineapple hair" Lawrence achieved the greatest years of his career with the Bantams. These are the...

Five greatest moments in the Bantam's career of City's most unlikely hero
  1. Breaking the record for most caps gained as a City player. Jamie Lawrence is one of few English born Jamaican players who has been take to the heart of the Caribbean fans in recent years.
  2. City stay up and purple headed Jamie Lawrence running from the field being mobbed is the leading picture on The Guardian.
  3. Tottenham Hotspur, Jamie picks the ball up on the half way line, shuffles a pass, gets it back, plays it to Dean Saunders, charges to the edge of the box getting the ball fed into him and poking it beyond Ian Walker. Goal of the season.
  4. Norwich City at home in the promotion season and Jamie is a Bantam rampant. Gets the ball in his own half and runs straight at the Canaries goal dodging tackles and unlashing a shot to put the game at 4-0 before half time.
  5. Anfield in the Premiership and onto the field comes Jamie sporting a bleach white hair ala Dennis Rodman. Cool as.
Law: We are as good as anyone in this division

Nicky Law will raise eyebrows even amongst City fans with his comments before the Grimsby game where he comments that the Bantams are "As good as anyone in this division". Law said "It is a real six-pointer and we can make life a lot easier for ourselves with the right result but if we don't win, it still isn't a disaster. We are in a position where everything is in our own hands and we don't have to rely on others. There will be teams down the bottom who are worrying about other results doing them a favour, but that doesn't apply in our current position. We know that on our day we are as good as anyone in this division. But we're not doing that enough."

Law then switched to understatement saying "It's not the greatest ground to play at and we'll have to dog it out. But we won there 1-0 last season and I'd settle for a repeat of that. I'm not tempting fate but I watched Grimsby at Burnley last week and they were absolutely clueless but they are usually a different prospect at their own place."

So far, so much ammo for Paul Groves' team talk. Law is right, Grimsby are a deeply poor side and make the most of the Cleethorpes/North Sea/Winter thing to get the points they need to stay up. City are capable of getting a result but should there be a continuation of the defensive mistakes that have blighted this season you would not put your mortgage on it.

Thursday 23 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Liverpool, As expected

Liverpool reserves, famously Bill Shankley's second favourite team on Merseyside, did the customary thrashing of the Bantams second string. Milan Baros scored four as the reds won 5-0.

Walsh, Cadamarteri back for reserves outing

Gary Walsh and Danny Cadamarteri return for the reserves twice annual thrashing at the hands of Liverpool's second string. Robbie Folwer and Milan Baros have both filled boots in this tie in previous years, expect Neil Mellor to be testing City's returning sticksman at Chester tonight.

Cadamarteri will be hoping to get through the game without any reaction from his injury which has hopefully healed through rest. If the Bradford born striker does suffer problems he will be forced to undergo an operation and be ruled out until next season.

Andy Tod gets a run out at centreback as he looks for a move away from Valley Parade. City field James Almond, a trialist from Manchester City and former Bromsgrove Rovers' teenage prodigy Patrick Bannister who was signed as a professional by Derby County aged 16 back in Febuary 2000. French midfielder Amadou Sanokha also plays for the Bantams.

Wednesday 22 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Lewis out for a month

Lewis Emanuel has pulled his hamstring during a training and will be out until the end of Febuary. Nicky Law said of the knock "It looks like a grade-one tear which means he will be missing for about three weeks or so."

Evans plays football

Paul Evans, out of favour with Nicky Law, has spoken of being back in first team action after joining Blackpool on a months loan. Evans, who has a four year deal at Valley Parade, said "It makes such a difference to be involved with the first team. When you are training all week and not getting a game it's a case of having to grin and bear it but to be out there on the pitch is what it's all about. I wasn't getting the chance to do that on a Saturday so when the gaffer let me go along to Blackpool I was happy to take it. I'm here for a month and don't know what will happen after that. Steve McMahon gives you a lot of confidence and Blackpool try to play football the right way and hopefully I can get in five or six games."

Here at BfB we are still not sure what went wrong with Paul Evans but know that something clearly did. He was the hero of Ipswich scoring one and setting another up but by the time Sheffield Wednesday away came he was scrapping on the field with Wayne Jacobs. Like or loath City's longest serving player few would accuse Jakes of being the sort to start a punch up and the fact that the left back continues in the side and the former Brentford skipper does not speak volumes.

There does seem to to be a problem with Evans and City. His appearence at Watford, which could be his final in a City shirt, could have lasted less than thirty seconds after he cut off one of the home side at the knee. It is worrying that Nicky Law has fallen out with two of his mainstays, Evans and Ian Banks, but at the moment it would seem that the best solution for all is for the midfielder to get to Blackpool and work a deal out because it is hard to see him playing for the Bantams again.

Tod plays football

Andy Tod got his first game since the money to play him ran out. He played for Dunfermline in a testimonial for former team mate Stewart Petrie. Tod is reported to be on the verge of a move to Barnsley.

Meanwhile it emerged that Barnsley will have to pay City £40,000 should they play Isaiah Rankin, one time £1.3m man, twice more. Please God let that not be a swap deal.

Tuesday 21 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Walsall inquiry for Jamie confirmed, Stoke also in?

Walsall boss Colin Lee has confirmed that he is interested in taking Jamie Lawrence to the Bescot Stadium but outlined a problem he may have saying "Several weeks ago there was an inquiry but at that stage Jamie was injured and I didn't think too much of it. I know about Jamie Lawrence but we've got no money to bring anyone in."

Nicky Law is in no rush to lose Lawrence to the financial problems at City saying "I spoke to Walsall again at the back end of last week but I'm not aware of them making an actual physical approach for Jamie. There is nothing agreed and until such time as that may happen, Jamie remains a Bradford City player and I am pleased to have him here."

Meanwhile Stoke City are rumoured to be keen on the City winger.

Monday 20 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law sacked Banks

Rumour tells City fans that the boss axed his number two

Very reliable sources are saying that Ian Banks was sacked from City by brother-in-law Nicky Law after the number two went to Gordon Gibb after an argument with Law and Gibb gave Law the option to look for a new assistant, an option that Law took.

A less reliable source suggested City want Stuart McCall was the new assistant at the end of the season.

Sheron on the way

City and Barnsley are preparing a swap deal that will take Andy Tod to Oakwell and bring Mike Sheron to Valley Parade. Tod cannot play for City again without costing the club £25k while five goal Sheron is looking for a move away from the second division side. Gordon Gibb, who was approached by Tykes chairman Peter Doyle over the deal, spoke about the problems that both club's had making transfers while under the rules of administration saying "We are hopeful that we will be allowed to strike this deal, Barnsley came to us with the idea and we agree that it would be ideal for both teams if the administrators give us permission to go ahead with it."

Jamie on his way

Jamie Lawrence is set to leave Bradford City this week with Walsall and Reading all interested in taking the City midfielder away from Valley Parade. Lawrence confirmed that he would be away and detailed the reasons for his departure saying "I've got a feeling something might happen very shortly, possibly this week. I'm out of contract at the end of the season and Bradford can't offer me anything here. At the end of the day I have to look out for my family. If you play the way I do people are always going to want you. I like to think I'm 100 per cent all the time, no matter if I'm playing well or not, and managers soon spread the word about players like that. I've got so many good memories here, especially being part of the famous Bradford team that went up to the Premier League and then stayed up."

Hearts in for Combe

Hearts are keen to take Alan Combe on loan until the end of the season after being left with a single 16 year old goalkeeper following injury to first choice Roddy McKenzie.

Sunday 19 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law fumes over McIntosh decision

Nicky Law has fumed over the referee Tony Leake for bringing about the Rotherham defeat. Law agreed with BfB's report saying "The decision not to send off Martin McIntosh was the turning point, Our player was 15 yards from goal and he was brought down yet the ref said he was going away from goal. McIntosh had been heading and kicking everything clear and if they had been without him it would have been a different game and different result. To be honest there were a lot of debatable decisions but I don't want to say any more."

It is so very boring to blame Referee's for losses but the fact remains that what Law says is correct. The result of this game, as with many in this division, was warped but a series of poor decisions by the officials. Perhaps the most damning thing is that we have come to expect and not even complain about these decisions. It cost City fan's £18 to get into Millmoor yesterday and we were robbed of a fair chance when the Tony Leake failed to follow the rules of the game.

Saturday 18 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams bested by Moore's Millers

City lose 3-2 to Rotherham

Claus Jorgensen gave City a first minute lead but three home goals let the lead slip as City lost 3-2 to Rotherham United at Millmoor.

McCall to return as number two?

As far as rumours go I'd give it 3/10 but word has it that Stuart McCall is being sounded out for a return to Valley Parade when his contract with Sheffield United runs out at the end of the season to fill Ian Banks' role as assistant to Nicky Law and renew his Bantam playing career. Like I say, 3/10.

Friday 17 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood and Roland Harris

Evans goes out on loan

Paul Evans, one of the bright points of the early season at Valley Parade before his fall out with Nicky Law, has left City to join Blackpool on loan. It is curious how Evans's star at City has fallen since his free kick at Ipswich and in this situation where a good player is not considered by the management for selection always leaves a question at the management's door. The manager's sole job is to get the best out of the resources, something that Nicky Law is clearly failing to do with Paul Evans.

Law angry at Moore trips to Rotherham

Millmoor, the broken down old shed of a ground that Rotherham call home, is Nicky Law's least favourite stadium in the world. Last season Law was pelted with coins, the season before when he visited with Chesterfield he was coined and abused by the home fans who are allowed to get exceedingly close to the bench. The locals are not friendly, but they are not the sum of the problem.

When you have loud mouth wannabe Ipswich boss Ronnie Moore motors on in the dug next to you you know you will not be in for a pleasent afternoon. "Everyone knows about the on-going saga with Ronnie and he is a bit of a wind-up merchant. I'm not going to be drawn into saying anything that will give their players an added incentive but I don't know how he can say in one breath we are the worst team he's seen and the next minute he's telling everyone it was no shock we won last time because we are full of Premiership players. I don't see any harm in a bit of friendly banter as long as it's kept at sensible levels."

For BfB's part we think that Moore is an idiot. He calls for us to be thrown out of football after the woes of Administation, he calls us "the worst team" after we beat them 4-2 and all the while he eyes up other jobs, and he once passed urine into Emlyn Hughes' tea. The guy is an idiot the proof of which bieng that Rotherham have not won at Millmoor since November 9, 2002, around the time that Moore was coverting the Ipswich role. Perhaps Nicky Law will not be the only manager feeling the force of the home fans...

Thursday 16 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Gibb makes his first football enemy

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has become Terry Fisher to Gordon Gibb's Geoffrey Richmond and just like when the former City chairman fell out with his Huddersfield Town opposite number Gibb has become embroiled in a war of words with Jordan over the calling off of last week's game with the Londoners.

Jordan fired the first volley with the uncharitable comments "Last week we were told every day that the game was going to be on, even though we had heard the pitch was in a bad way. Then we had a referee who took one look at it and said it was unplayable. Bradford were wholly irresponsible by insisting it was on. You can understand them wanting to play it to get the revenue in but it has backfired on them because they now have to pay our hotel bills. It's sheer incompetence on their part." Very few people in Bradford thought the game would be called off so it comes as no surprise to hear that City insisted the game would be on.

Gibb returned with the same sort of spirit Richmond used to bring saying "Simon Jordan is living proof that people shouldn't open up their mouths and let their belly rumble. He should check out all the facts of the matter because it is entirely incorrect what he has said but I'm secretly pleased about his comments, which will resonate through the club. I'm sure they will act as a great motivating factor. What was always going to be a tight game against Palace will be even tighter. We've now been given even more incentive to go out and give his team a good hiding."

In a way that you could never simulate in Championship Manager City and Palace did a deal over monies owed for Matt Clarke to get the Valley Parade fixture dated when the Londoners preferred. Gibb explains "The money from the Clarke transfer was due in March but they have brought forward paying a large chunk of that. So while we wanted to play the Palace game sooner rather than later, technically from a financial point of view we are probably better off than having the fixture now. The cash we will be getting this month is more than we would have expected from the gate receipts." And we just thought they looked in te book for the next free weekday night that both teams could make. How naive we are.

Chairmen fall outs aside City will play Crystal Palace on Wednesday 19 February 2003.

Those pesky kids!

City went out of the FA Youth Cup at the fourth round losing 1-0 at Luton.

Wednesday 15 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

What do kids know?

Chris Dowhan's kids, well not literally his kids, take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road tonight. This match up sent BfB minds back to the 2-0 doing that City got in the league cup at said ground in 1989 and one hopes that the young Bantams do not shoot themselves in the foot Paul Tomlinson style and can get through to play either Middlesbrough or Barnsley in the next round.

All eyes of course in the young strikers considering the state of the current Bantam senior front men. Danny Forrest, Kevin Sanasy and Danny Ekoku are all in the squad and if your name is not Ashley Ward or Danny Cadamarteri you are probably keeping your fingers crossed that one turns out to be a Wayne Rooney.

January wages paid

City will pay January's wage bill by selling the £750,000 house in Alwoodley, Leeds that was Benito Carbone's, althoough where Andy Tod will be sent to live now is anyone's guess. Julian Rhodes commentted "We always knew that January was going to be the tightest month because of the lack of home games but we don't think the wages will be affected. Selling Benito Carbone's house should go some way towards paying that."

The house will go for less than the £750,000 asked but should cover a few expenses. Frankly with the boom in property in Leeds at the moment BfB is amazed that we still have the house and would have thought tat selling it would have been the first thing on the agenda when Gordon Gibb took office.

Tuesday 14 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Ward back, Lawrence and Cadamarteri on the way

Ashley Ward will return for saturday's trip to Rotherham United after returning to full training today. Nicky Law was excited, and it's good to know that someone is, saying "After what he did to Rotherham here it could be a good psychological thing. Wardy won everything that day against their defence. It's a game when you need a strong presence like that. Rotherham are a physical sideand you've got to be able to match them in that department. Wardy is naturally fit and we wouldn't have any problem putting him straight back in if he feels all right."

Danny Cadamarteri could play after the problem tendinitis in his knee abated although City number eight's returning depends on any reaction the bradford born striker has to returning to training. Should he react badly he will be operated on and miss the rest of the season. Cadamarteri may make the bench for Saturday as might sore rib man Jamie Lawrence.

Grimsby game dated

Grimsby's 4-0 defeat at Burnley in the FA Cup third round means that City will travel to Cleethorpes to play the Mariners on the 25th of this month following the cancellation of the game on New Years Day.

Monday 13 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Gibb sees light at the end of the tunnel

Gordon Gibb has spoken of the end of City's immediate financial ills coming when the mortgage issue is solved with factoring company Lombard. Gibb said "Within the next two weeks we will be in a position to make them an official proposal. Then it's a case of waiting for a response and hopefully their answer will be yes. Although it's another so-called crisis for us, everyone should take a lot of heart as far as they can. The mortgage is the last major piece of the jigsaw and once that's in place, I believe we have got a very solid platform on which to build for the future."

Gibb continued his underlining of the need for stability at the club by talking about the position of manager Nicky Law saying "When Nicky was talking about how he feared for his job, I think what he was suggesting was that managers live their career from a Saturday to Saturday basis, they are answerable each and every time the first team plays. I would imagine that he was not referring to any pressure at all from within because we are well aware of the job that he has done. His job is safe and his job is secure. I am sick and tired of the times I have had to say that to him or anyone else who would listen. The last thing this organisation needs is more volatility. We need consolidation and we need people who can give 100 per cent to a certain goal. Nicky is in that calibre. There is no mystery behind our improved form, the senior players have come back from injury and we are doing well again. Bradford City are good enough, with a decent first team to pick from, to finish in a mid-table slot."

Perhaps it is the fact that Gibb could have been a footballer or just the fact that he is younger than many of the squad but as chairman his comments on football seem to carry more weight than most.

Como to offload Carbone

Italian basement side Como are preparing for life in Serie B, they have one win and three draws all season, by offloading Benito Carbone. The former City man has been offered around the Premiership with The Daily Star reporting that Birmingham City are keen on the striker.

Combe on coming back to City

Alan Combe is allowed to sign a pre-contract with another club now his deal at Dundee United only has six months left to run and many Bantam fans are hoping that the Scots keeper will be returning to Valley Parade. Combe speaks highly of his time at City saying "Coming to Bradford last year gave me that spark again which comes from playing regularly. But that has disappeared being back up here and going nowhere. I've played four games all season for the reserves and one of them wasn't even a competitive match. I can't get a game for the team who are bottom of the league and have the worst goals against record. That speaks volumes about what the Dundee United manager thinks of me."

Speaking about the man who turned down Andy Tod Combe said "Things have actually improved a bit for me since Paul Hegarty took over as manager. Before I was training with the kids and at least now I'm back with the first team but even though I've been a sub a couple of times I'm never going to get a game. I've not really heard anything from Bradford but I can't wait to get away from here. I would rather something came up a bit sooner than the summer but I've got used to being patient - it's been like this for two years now. It's obviously good news if Bradford are talking about me again. But at this moment in time I don't know what the future holds, apart from knowing it won't be at Dundee United."

Sunday 12 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Evans gives call off reasons

The Referee Eddie Evans, who called off City's game with Crystal Palace yesterday has revealed his reasons saying that the pitch was dangerous because it was still frozen in some areas. Both City and Palace wanted to play the game. City are keen to rearrange the game before the end of the month.

Tod interest dropped

Dundee United's signing of Italian defender Daniele Chiarini would seem to have finished their interest in Andy Tod. United boss Paul Hegarty said "The move for Andy Tod is on the back burner now. I spoke with the Bradford chairman and manager Nicky Law the other day, but Tod still has 18 months left to run on his contract. He was one of a number of players we were interested in but when Daniele became available, as a free agent, it made sense to move for him. It was definitely a case of moving for one or the other, and I think we have just signed a player who will add steel to our defence."

Saturday 11 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Palace game off

City's game with Crystal Palace has been called off owing to a frozen pitch. Cash wise it is no doubt a bad thing but from a footballing point of view the more games that City can have put back to a time when the likes of David Wetherall, Gary Walsh and even Ashley Ward are fit the better.

Danks set for first start

Mark Danks is set to be paired alongside Andy GRay after his goal at West Brom last week nudged the former Wolves striker ahead of Juanjo is City's Andy Tod-less strike force. Nicky Law weighed up his options saying "I'm not falling over myself with strikers and Cadamarteri and Ward seem to have been injured forever. It's difficult to get another one in because of the club's financial situation so it's a case of having to plod along with what we've got. Danks might be worth a chance and I could go with a young one. Otherwise, the choice is to change the system and build it round Andy [Gray] by playing a different way."

Law did confirm a return tothe side for Peter Atherton saying "Peter has been a big part of our success over the last few weeks before that. Having Peter Atherton in the side makes a massive difference to us. He brings us experience and quality and has great organisational skills. Peter is a calming influence on the younger players and we have a few of them in the team at the minute." It is also thought that Gary Walsh will return for a place on the bench.

Tod in talks about return to Scotland

Andy Tod is in talks with Dundee United about a free transfer back North. Dundee United boss Paul Hegarty wants Tod to play centreback and would like to see Tod in action at close quarters having said "Unfortunately in Andy's case when I watched him play against Wolves he was used up front by Bradford and I want to see him operating in his natural position at the back. If we reached a situation where getting them up for training was the only way to have a look at them then that's something we would probably do."

There was a time when it looked like Nicky Law would never play Tod again following the Rotherham debacle, the City boss seems to have cooled and says now "It's a bizarre situation. Andy's got 18 months of his contract left and we can't afford to play him. I feel sorry for Andy because he came in and did well in the last two games. But unfortunately it's a situation that we can't hide from. There are talks going on with regards Andy and Dundee United. At the moment I can't comment too much but his agent and the chairman are talking."

Stockport not breaking Banks

Stockport County want Bolton's former City keeper Steve Banks but are not prepared to pay that much for him, which must make him feel very wanted I'm sure.

Thursday 09 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Dundee United offering Tod a way back

Dundee United are set to offer Andy Tod a way back into football after his City career ground to a halt. Tannadice boss Paul Hegarty said "We have had Andy Tod watched and I was keen to take another look at him. We will keep working and will be monitoring Andy's situation."

BfB is in two minds about Tod. Sometimes you have to appreciate his honest endeavour and sometimes you wonder if he is really just a defender winging out the end of his career. All in all though if Tod cannot play there is no point in having him and if Dundee United will take him off our hands then I'm glad to see him go.

Palace game under threat

City are hoping that the Crystal Palace game does not fall to the frost to avoid further cashflow problems. There is a pitch inspection at 11:30 on Friday and while it was hard, BfB's garden in Clayton not five miles from VP was of playable condition this morning. However City secretary Jon Pollard commented "It's touch and go. The pitch is still hard underneath the covers and there is ice and frost in places. I would think they will take off some of the covers to have a closer look but it will be a close-run thing."

Gibb on this season's attendances

Gordon Gibb has spoken of the fall in attendances and the effect it is having on the club. Gibb said "The negative feeling left over from what happened in the summer has manifested itself most seriously with the fans, the fall in attendance has left a £750,000 hole in our cash flow. I don't think the fans realise how very, very important they are to us at this time."

Lombard talks "cordial"

Gordon Gibb described the talks with mortgage company Lombard, the club's biggest creditor, as "cordial" but said he was optimistic a deal could be agreed that would allow City to doubling the period of repayments from six to twelve years. If you think is going to half the club's financial outlay on it's mortgage you have never dealt with a mortgage company.

Gibb has promised City "A significant financial injection" to give personal guarantees to back up the mortgage. Gibb said "There is going to have to be a further injection into the club, It will put me in a more exposed position than I ever imagined but it is the only solution which could save the club."

City to come out of administration

City are in court at the end of the month to officially come out of administration. Under the terms of the CVA the interests of the creditors of the club will be looked after by the supervision of administrators Kroll Buchler Phillips. The club is bound by the CVA to pay off creditors at the approved rate.

All about Edinho

Want to see a picture of the original Boy Form Brazil before his short hair Bradford City days? Take a look at The Olhanense website profile of Edinho.

Wednesday 08 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

City meet with mortgage men over the future of Valley Parade

Gordon Gibb met with mortgage lender Lombard over the £6.3 million the club still owes in mortgage payments on the Main Stand with one the suggestion being that City's biggest creditor takes Valley Parade and rents it back to the club. City failed to pay £350,000 due last week and as with all mortgage defaulters City could face repossession of the ground, although what use a large football stadium in Manningham would be to Lombard, aside from uses connected to City, is anoyone's guess.

The Bradford Bulls have no interest in the stadium and no other club in the City could even approach affording it. Professor David Rhodes and his son Julian are personal guarantors loan and would have to find the cash should it not be paid soonish. Julian Rhodes sees a way out saying "I am always confident that we can come to an agreement, especially when it is in both parties' interests that an agreement is reached, Lombard is the biggest creditor by a long, long way. We want to repay the debt to them, it is just that under the current terms we have to pay £1.4 million per year. It is unachievable. If you look at other football clubs they have debts spread over a 25-year period. Our mortgage with Lombard covers just five-and-a-half years."

Speaking about the possibility of renting the ground back from Lombard Rhodes Jnr said "We would consider any deal if it meant the football club staying in business, but we would prefer to own the stadium ourselves and pay it back over a longer period. But up until now Lombard have taken a very hard line. If a deal is not done, we will carry on paying the money to them as long as we can but at the end of the day it would mean the end of the football club."

BfB wonders where this will end. Every week sees a threat to the club and frankly our nerves are bad with it so we cannot imagine how Rhodes and Gibb cope with it. As Lombard are the club's biggest creditor, and as a seven year mortgage is a little on the small side and would suggest extensibility to a longer period.

Dunfermline chairman: "I'm not going to write off the £25,000"

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston offered City and Andy Tod no relief following the Scot's being left out of the squad when the club hit cash flow problems "There's not a lot we can do at Dunfermline. If he plays another game then we are due the money. We could come to an arrangement about the payment if that was necessary and we will try to help Bradford if we can. But the bottom line is that I'm not going to write off the £25,000. It's up to Bradford what they do next. Andy Tod has still got another 18 months of his contract to run. Are they going to give us the money or pay him a hell of a lot more than £25,000 for doing nothing for the rest of that time?"

BfB solution is to try swap Tod with some other lummox from another club.

Law wants to keep Reid

Remember Paul Reid's two goals against Norwich? Nicky Law obviously does because he wants to keep the Australian midfielder until the end of the season after the four month deal he signed for City on ran out at the weekend. Cash is the problem, yet again.

Nicky Law said of signing Reid "I would like to do something with him, probably short term until the end of the season. But I don't know if we can do it financially. I think Paul has done all right in the time he has been with us. They have been difficult circumstances for him to try to make an impression but he's got something there. We are a bit low on bodies at the moment and we can't really afford to lose him."

BfB might suggest that the money would be better spent on a striker than keeping a midfielder who, while a decent technical player, is far off the pace of the English game.

Tuesday 07 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Reserves off

The reserves game at Bolton is off owing to a frozen pitch.

City look at Swede u21 keeper

Nicky Law will look at 22 year old Swedish keeper Ola Tidman of Belgian club RAA Louvieroise. Tidman will train with City for a week starting Sunday having perviously been on trial with Tranmere Rovers and Bolton. Tidman's time at City was due to start on Monday but the Swede is suffering from tonsillitis. Said Law of the iceman who does not cometh just yet He's just coming in for a few days so we can have a look at him. He has been recommended to us by an agent."

Aside from giving Law the ability to have training games, soething that is hard with only a single keeper at the club, Tidman could provide Law with a long term replacement for his current keepers. Gary Walsh will not be offered a new deal by the club in light of his age and injury problems while the signing of Boaz Myhill suggested that Law is not happy with Aidan Davison as his starting stick man. Alan Combe is thought to be Law's prefered choice but should Tidman impress he could find himself at Valley Parade at the very least as cover for Davison.

Law opinion of Davison is perhaps spoken loudest in his comments about Gary Walsh: "We're keeping our fingers crossed that Walshy is on the way back." Amen to that.

Monday 06 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

City look for Pars Tod deal

Andy Tod will not play for City until Dunfermline agree a deal with the Bantams to allow the 31 year old Scot to continue his VP career by defering the £25,000 payment that City will owe when the player takes part in another game. Julian Rhodes has confirmed that City are talking to the Pars about a deal but underlined how City are being forced to put finance over football. "There is nothing sinister about the situation, it is just very sensitive with our cash flows. January is traditionally an awkward month. Andy knows the situation and has been very good about it. Obviously he was disappointed not to play in the FA Cup but he understands the situation regarding money. We hope to sort something out but maybe not in time for Saturday."

Despite some eager young website writers suggesting there was another reason for Tod's absence in the 3-1 loss at West Brom it would seem that the £25,000 payment is the only reason for Tod to be cooling his heels. All this raises three questions:

  1. Tod has been very good on his return to the team but he is not the kind of quality player that the club should be paying £25,000 for the priviladge of playing. The loss at West Brom was for more reasons than the absence of Tod and while it is true that a club gets £50,000 for reaching the forth round of the FA Cup I would agree with Nicky Law in the assumption that including Tod would not guarantee that.
  2. If a deal cannot be struck then might one suggest that we should be looking for a team with an out of favour target man striker who would take Tod on loan or in an exchange deal. If we cannot play him he is no use to us and we may as well try find a player who we can play.
  3. What on Earth was Jim Jefferies doing signing a limited player like Andy Tod, who is over thirty and still does not know his best position, for so much money! Tod was in the reserves at Dunfermline when we took him on loan. He did adiquately last season but frankly a straight £25,000 would be expensive for the player, the idea that we have already lashed out over £100,000 for him and have to pay more is a good indication as to how we ran up £32m worth a debt.
Reserves off probably

Chris Dowhan's first reserve game against Bolton is most likley off with a frozen pitch. An inspection is planned for 11am on Tuesday. The game could have seen comebacks for Gary Walsh and David Wetherall.

Cost cutting for Combe

Some suggestion that City are cutting costs to offer a contract to Alan Combe, who is out of contract during the summer, that would bring him to Valley Parade. City would be keen on a Lee Bowyer to West Ham style early move by Combe considering the impressive keeper has not played for Dundee United since leaving Valley Parade at the end of last term but will wait for the summer should a pre-contract be agreed.

Similalry Juanjo, who has done well enough when given a chance this season but is clearly not in Nicky Law's plans, may be moving North to get him off the wage bill for the next few months before his contract expires during the summer.

Danks on scoring at the Baggies

Mark Danks was pleased to score his first goal at West Brom, the 18 year old being a Black Country lad. Danks said "Four or five of my friends are West Brom season-ticket holders including my uncle so obviously that made it a bit special for me. I've been living up in Bradford for the last two months and not been able to see too many people back home. So I always hoped to enjoy this weekend and scoring at the Hawthorns in the FA Cup is even better."

Danks was realistic about his chances in the first team saying "We've got Ashley Ward and Danny Cadamarteri out and my aim while they aren't playing is to show that I am worth a chance. I wouldn't say I can get in front of them because they are established players, but as long as I do well then if there needs to be changes hopefully I won't be overlooked."

Nicky Law was pleased with his new striker's first goal saying "Mark got a typical poacher's goal, it hit the bar and dropped nicely to him. But I thought he did well because he was up against three big centre halves and he's not the biggest himself. He put himself in the firing line and that was sadly lacking for 50 minutes in the game."

That West Brom match report

If you really want to read it here are BfB thoughts on losing 3-1 to West Brom

Saturday 04 January, 2003

Today's News by Roland Harris

Cup woe continues

City lose 3-1 at West Brom in the 3rd round

A twenty minute Danny Dichio hat trick put pay to City's FA Cup hopes, and hopes of a bank balance boost. Mark Danks came off the bench to get a goal for City who lacked much up front following the omission of Andy Tod...

Match report

Tod on is way out, Banks bust up rumours

Andy Tod was excluded from the City squad for the game with speculation suggesting he was returning North to Scotland now the transfer window had opened. However, there was also speculation that Tod was in the cold after, it is said, having a "agitated disagreement" with assistant manager Ian Banks that saw Banks relieved of his position.

It is true to say that if Tod plays one more game then City then the club will owe Dunfermline another £25,000 but unless the big striker is never to wear the colours again it hardly seems appropriate to drop him for this game. A win or draw could have paid for Dunfermline's extra money.

Nicky Law statements on Banks departure to leave some room for interpretation. Law said "I don't think Banks leaving will change anything with me", a statement that does not sound like a man who's right hand and brother in law has been sacked to save the cost of Ashley Ward's wage for a month.

Dowhan takes reserves

City's Youth coach Chris Dowhan will take charge of the reserve team following Ian Banks' departure.

Friday 03 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Banks out as City give out timely reminder of cash problems

Ian Banks left Bradford City for a second time today after his assistant manager's job was axed in further cost cutting. Banks, who joined club last season with Nicky Law, leaves City with much regret from the boardroom and an obvious question mark over the future of many elements at the club.

Nicky Law will obviously be asked to do without any of the backroom team he brought from Chesterfield, Banks joining Kevin Hornsby on the way out of Valley Parade although there is speculation that Law will appoint a replacement for Banks from the senior playing staff. Banks' reserve side play on the 7th of January by which time a temporary appointment is expected.

Before that the club face a trip to the Hawthornes in the FA Cup with a result very much needed. The Bantams of late have failed to do much in any cup competition and now are in need of a shot in the arm cash wise that a win or at least a replay would give. Speaking about last years exit Robert Molenaar said "It was very disappointing for me what happened at Walsall. It was not a good game for any of us because we didn't play very well and hopefully we can do better against West Brom. All the teams that go up to the Premiership are always expected to come back down, with the exception of the likes of Fulham who are a different case. So it's not surprising to see West Brom are struggling this season. A lot of people have them to go down again but you never know and I'm sure it will be a very difficult test for us. They don't seem to score many goals but they do not concede many. As I've always said about us, the key to a good run is to keep it solid at the back and not let in too many goals. That is what got West Brom promoted last season and although they have been losing in the Premiership, all their matches seem to be quite tight. They will make it difficult for us but it is a chance to get away from the league and see what we can do against a team in the top division."

BCST collect £2,860

The Bradford City Supporters' Trust collected nearly £2,000 from fans at the home game against Stoke City and have now raised £2,860 for it's player fund. The Bantams have got special permission to use an extra £10,000 added to the £100,000 we were allowed to spend on players this term providing such funds are raised by City fans.

Julian Rhodes commented on the trusts efforts "It is really encouraging that they can raise that kind of money at just one game, £10,000 can go a long way in the current market place so we are very grateful for their help."

Act of war

City have sent 2,400 shirts to Afghanistan to help restablish the league post-Taliban. Expect the big Kabul United vs Kabul Athletic to be played between Claret and Amber and The Barca away kit. PM Tony Blair was impressed saying "While many clubs have played their part in supplying kit, none has been more generous than Bradford City and its supporters. I'm particularly grateful because, as with many other clubs, I know that these are hard times for Bradford City."

Thursday 02 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bob to play on Saturday

Robert Molenaar will replace banned Peter Atherton for the weekend FA Cup tie with West Brom despite his badly swollen ankle. Nicky Law confirmed "Robert wouldn't have made the Grimsby game and I think he will be touch and go for the weekend. But with Pete suspended it might have to be a case of strapping Robert up and getting him ready for action."

Grimsby game off

As you have probably found out elsewhere the game with Grimsby was called off. We spent the afternoon watching highlights of the 1999-2000 Premiership season at our Mum's. Nicky Law was less pleased with getting to stay in the warm saying "It was a big disappointment because we had a bit of momentum going over the last couple of games. We were on a good run and wanted to keep that going. A postponement probably suited Grimsby a bit more than it did us."

Wednesday 01 January, 2003

Today's News by Michael Wood

Myhill goes home

Boaz Myhill has returned to Aston Villa after playing only two games on loan at City.

A happy new year...

Lets hope it's a good one.

The month by month news index.