BELOW-FIRE Owner of Bradford City Stefan Rupp has expressed his dedication to the team once more and apologised to fans for his “quiet” attendance at the struggling League Two team during the previous six months.
Before this Friday’s home match against Tranmere Rovers, the Bradford City Fans Independent Group has planned a protest outside the directors’ entrance at Valley Parade, more evidence of the growing gulf between elements of the City fan base and the club leadership.
Following the disappointing loss against Harrogate Town last weekend, fans vented their resentment at Rupp and CEO Ryan Sparks, putting the club on the verge of a crisis.
Rupp said in an open letter to supporters that the 2023–24 season has “not been good enough” and that he has met with Sparks for urgent talks about the current situation at the club in Munich.
Rupp attested that Sparks addressed the club’s worries regarding its playing budget, with the City owner promising to provide additional funding so that the West Yorkshire squad may “have a closer fight with teams at the top end of the table next season.
This season has not been good enough,” Rupp declared. Nobody associated with this group, myself included, has a different opinion than me.
I take responsibility for my actions and acknowledge the criticism I have received. I’m resolved to disappoint no one.
I acknowledge that, especially in the last six months, I have been too silent and not present enough. I’m sorry about it.
I want to make sure you are aware of the club’s future intentions, therefore I will be more visible and interact with you more frequently moving forward.
I plan to discuss the many subjects that are most important to you in a more transparent, frequent, and understandable manner. I have been informed of these issues. However, as you can see, there are some topics that are private and need to remain that way for obvious reasons.
Ryan voiced his worries about our budget as well as the relative budgets of other teams that will probably be discussed in League Two the next season, including those of teams that will be promoted from the National League and those that will be demoted from League One.
Based on the current paradigm, we started the summer before this season with a competitive budget, hoping to offer play-off football. But clearly our budget got less competitive as the clubs with greater resources kept spending.
I promise to work with you to make sure we can now compete in the transfer market, which will increase our chances of playing teams near the top of the table more closely the next season.
This hasn’t always been the case in the past though. In order to achieve our goals without putting undue financial strain on the business, we must, to some extent, move away from an approach where our primary objective is sustainability. Ryan was given clear instructions by me to run our club as close to breakeven as possible.
I have always provided financial support to the club when needed, but I acknowledge that this support will need to expand. Ryan and I agree that greater investment will be necessary in the future.
Additionally, the City supremo disclosed that he is “considering all options” to ensure that the club receives a positive end with regard to the Valley Parade renting arrangement.
A substantial six-figure annual fee is paid by City to the family pension fund of former chairman Gordon Gibb, who purchased the stadium in 2003 for approximately £2.5 million during the height of his financial difficulties after a two-year Premier League stint.
Rupp went on, “I am fully aware that the term of our present renting deal for Valley Parade’s University of Bradford Stadium is soon to expire.
Even if it costs me, I am weighing all of our alternatives to make sure the club has the best possible long-term outcome and to protect its finances. I view things in this way for the club as a whole.
There are often questions tabled to me and Ryan about my desire to own Bradford City in the long term, and it is important I clear this up for everyone concerned,” he continued, speaking about his dedication to the team.
Like the majority of EFL owners, I would and will entertain approaches from prospective purchasers who have the ability to advance Bradford City beyond my capabilities, but I would never let it end up in the wrong hands.
That being said, even though I am the club’s owner, I want to be clear that, together with Ryan, Graham (Alexander), and our team, we aim to move it forward and restore true enthusiasm and hope to Valley Parade. I will not be changing my position on this.
