Former QPR chief Paladini in takeover talks with Bradford

BRADFORD CITY have signed a confidentiality clause with former Queens Park Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini – who is in talks with the club about a possible takeover.
Gianni Paladini.Gianni Paladini.
Gianni Paladini.

The 69-year-old Italian is keen to return to English football after leaving QPR in 2011 and has previously attempted to buy Birmingham City from Carson Yeung.

Paladini has registered as a director of a new Bradford City holding company in what appears to be the first move towards attempting to take control at Valley Parade.

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The company was registered in February, but it has no connection with the club.

In late 2012, Solihull-based Paladini was part of a consortium who made moves to buy Birmingham, setting up a separate holding company to purchase Blues in a deal worth up to £30m.

But the bid was rejected.

Bradford co-owners Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes have been at the helm together since the summer of 1997.

Both remain committed to Bradford, although Lawn has spoken several times in the past about the pair being happy to step aside if serious and well-intended investors came to the fore.

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Speaking earlier this year, Lawn said: “If someone thinks they can come in and do a better job of running Bradford City than me, then I’d be happy going back to having a pie and a pint.

I don’t know whether my kids would, but I would.”

After City’s promotion to League One in May 2013, Lawn admitted to being ‘stunned’ that no bidders had expressed interest after a 2012-13 season which saw them reach the Capital One Cup final – and become the talk of domestic football.

Bradford have again produced a fairytale this season in beating Chelsea in arguably the most famous FA Cup upset of all time, earning the club world-wide publicity in the process, then ousting Sunderland.

On-the-field cup success has also yielded a financial reward, with City’s exploits in reaching the last eight enablng them to record a yearly profit of £600,000.

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Back in their double Wembley season of 2012-13, Bradford also posted a seven-figure profit of £1.59m for the financial year.

Paladini is someone well known in football circles after being a leading agent after working in the restaurant and nightclub industry before branching out. Paladini brokered deals for former Middlesbrough players Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli and was a go-between for transfers involving Italian players before becoming involved in QPR in 2003-04.

He became chairman and secured big financial input of friends Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore before stepping down in August 2011.

Paladini made a failed attempt to take over Port Vale in late 2003.