City seek League’s approval to switch to Odsal if rent deal forces them to move

The Bantams are facing a summer of uncertainty with a proposal to abandon their home of more than a century this summer being under serious consideration if agreement cannot be reached over a rent reduction with the club’s two landlords.

City pay around £370,000 per year to the owner of Valley Parade, the Trustees of Flamingo Land Limited Self Administered Pension Scheme, plus a similar amount again to investment company Prupim, who own the office block that sits adjacent to the ground.

With rates, electricity and other overheads also having to be met, Bradford must find around £1.25m per year before a ball is kicked or a wage paid – an outlay that joint chairman Mark Lawn insists is “unsustainable” for the League Two club.

As a result, the Bantams are considering several ways forward including a possible relocation across the city to Odsal.

To do so, legal experts claim, the club would have to go into administration to break the 25-year leases that were signed on both Valley Parade and the office block back in 2003.

With that in mind, City officials contacted the League last month and a second meeting was held yesterday that saw joint chairman Julian Rhodes outline the club’s position.

A Valley Parade source said: “Bradford City wanted to bring the League up to speed about what has been happening so they requested a meeting with the League.

“The club also wanted clarification from the League as to whether a possible course of action that is under consideration does not break any rules. The meeting went well.”

When contacted by the Yorkshire Post last night, a spokesman for the Football League confirmed the meeting had taken place.

He said: “We did meet with Bradford City today and discussed a number of matters. We can’t, though, discuss what those matters were.”

Under League rules, any switch of stadium can only be approved by the full Football League board.

The board meets on a monthly basis and is made up of six representatives of the three divisions plus League chairman Greg Clarke and director Ian Ritchie.

If the Bantams were to seek approval for a move to the home of Bradford Bulls rugby league club, they would have to satisfy a number of criteria before being given the green light.

City, for their part, have continually stressed that they want to stay at Valley Parade and it is understood talks will take place with both landlords later this week.

Jack Tordoff, the club president and well-respected chairman of JCT600, has been brought in as a mediator in the hope agreement can be struck to keep football in Manningham.

It all adds up to an uncertain summer for Bradford, who are also yet to appoint a permanent successor to Peter Taylor.

Peter Jackson stepped in as interim manager at the end of February and led his hometown club to safety.

The 50-year-old remains in the dark, however, as to what the club plan to do next in terms of filling the vacancy – though he is continuing to plan for the 2011-12 campaign in his interim role and last week signed Matlock Town striker Ross Hannah on a free transfer.

Jackson’s main rival for the job was John Still but the Dagenham & Redbridge chief withdrew his interest over the weekend.

The 61-year-old, English football’s fifth longest-serving manager, said: “Bradford is a bigger club but things just aren’t settled there.

“And it is not as if I am unhappy where I am. I have made it clear to my chairman that I am perfectly happy at Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and my work is already in preparation for next season.”