Bantams are prospering after survival battle

24 December 2004

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

Colin Todd

We’re expecting a tough game because they are a decent side

IF there’s another team in the Football League that know what Wrexham are going through it’s Bradford City.

The Bantams only came out of administration, for the second time, on December 10 after a turbulent two-and-a-half years plagued with financial problems.

Bradford did not look as if they would survive in the summer but they’ve pulled through remarkably and are serious contenders to make the play-offs.

Bradford were not docked ten points for going administration, unlike Wrexham who were the first team to be hit by the new rule.

And the Yorkshire club has made the kind-hearted offer that for every Reds’ fan above the 600 mark who attends the match on Sunday they will return to Wrexham the entrance money.

So if 650 Reds fans make the trip, Bradford will donate back gate receipts equivalent to 50 supporters.

On the pitch, Todd’s side will not be as generous as they bid to maintain their play-off bid and improve on sixth position.

Bradford’s squad was severely cut in the summer despite a couple of players signed on the cheap. But the Bantams have exceeded all expectations considering they were tipped for a second successive relegation.

Todd – who was originally assistant to Bryan Robson before taking sole charge, and only this week agreed a new contract with the club – is not getting carried away.

Having set the target of firstly staying up, Todd has now said he would he disappointed if Bradford did not make the top half of the table come May – but there’s still no talk of the play-offs.

One reason Bradford are not expected to make the play-offs is because of their home form at Valley Parade. They have won more matches away, and many feel that is their Achilles’ heel.

But with five wins, three draws and three defeats, that’s not the worst home record and Wrexham will need to be on their guard.

Bradford go into the game on the back of a fine 1-0 derby win at Huddersfield, and unless Todd can sign a player on loan in time to face the Reds, there are not expected to be many changes, if any.

Australian goalkeeper Paul Henderson will be between the posts and he will be guarded by a four-man defence.

Darren Holloway should be right back, David Wetherall and Mark Bower the centre-backs, and Lewis Emanuel will continue as left back.

Changes could be made to the midfield, but Nicky Summerbee and Owen Morrison, who has made an instant impact at Valley Parade, will be the right and left wingers respectively.

And either Tom Kearney or Lee Crooks, who was dismissed for two yellow cards when Wrexham beat Bradford 2-1 at The Racecourse in September, should line up in the centre of midfield along with Steve Schumacher.

Dean Windass is the leading scorer with 12 goals and he is likely to continue in attack alongside Zema Abbey who has signed a short term contract at the club.

But Todd is not under-estimating Wrexham who are now facing a relegation battle after their ten points deduction.

Todd said: “I’ve got a lot of sympathy. We were in administration for a long time and know exactly what Wrexham are going through.

“It’s a very difficult situation, even more so when they were deducted ten points. But as we’ve all learned at this football club, when you are in a position like that you become stronger for it.

“I’m convinced that Wrexham will do that and show a lot of people what they are made of.

“We’re expecting a tough game because they are a decent side. A little bit of gloss will have been taken off, though I’m sure Denis Smith will pick up his troops as I have done here.

“He’ll have them concentrating on football and not worrying about the league table. That should be motivation enough to put a run together and get those points back quickly.”

The game against Bradford on Sunday marks the first of four fixtures in a busy nine-day Christmas period for Wrexham.

Wrexham also play host to Chesterfield (Dec 28) and Blackpool (Jan 1) before travelling to Sheffield Wednesday (Jan 3).