5 Bradford City questions that owner Stefan Rupp, David Sharpe, Graham Alexander and co must answer | OneFootball

Bradford City is holding a fan forum where supporters can ask Graham Alexander, Ryan Sparks, Stephen Gent, David Sharpe, and Stefan Rupp questions.

Highlights

It’s no secret that in recent years, there has been a lack of communication from the higher-ups at Bradford City with the supporters who turn up every week to support the club.

Since Mark Lawn sold the club to current owner Stefan Rupp in 2016, the club was relegated to the bottom division of the EFL and has been stuck there since, which has, of course, caused a section of the fanbase to become disillusioned with the running of the club.

Figures like Rupp and chief executive officer Ryan Sparks have come under much scrutiny after making yearly promises to push for promotion, which has yet to be fulfilled in six years.

However, the good news for City fans is that the club is holding a fan forum on Tuesday 25th June 2024. This ticketed event will allow fans to speak directly with Rupp and Sparks, as well as first team manager Graham Alexander, head of recruitment Stephen Gent, and head of football operations David Sharpe.

This provides supporters with the chance to have questions asked by the above panel. We’ve collected a list of questions that fans will want to ask and have answered within this article.

What is the recruitment model?

Fans are eager to hear from the club about the recruitment model. Previous transfer windows have seen the club have more misses than hits, with signings such as Emmanuel Osadebe, Ash Taylor, and Timi Odusina, who simply didn’t work out at the club for various reasons during recent seasons.

Since joining the club in 2022, Gent has been criticised online for its approach to signing players. Now, with David Sharpe at the club, fans hope the club will take a more strategic approach to transfers and prioritise quality over quantity.

What are the plans for Valley Parade?

In March, Rupp released an open letter to the fans and covered briefly some concerns the fans have had about the club and how it is run.

Speaking about the stadium, Rupp said, “I am acutely aware our current rental agreement for the University of Bradford Stadium, Valley Parade, is not far from coming to an end. I am considering all of our options to ensure the most favourable outcome for the club in the long term.”

As Rupp mentioned, with the current deal for the ground coming to a conclusion in the future, fans are keen to know what the plan is for Valley Parade and whether it will continue to be the home of Bradford City.

Will more players leave by mutual consent?

Very early into the summer, shortly after the conclusion of last season, the club quickly mutually cut ties with defender Ash Taylor, who has since gone on to sign for FC Bruno’s Magpies in Gibraltar, which equally adds to why the club signed Taylor in the first place last season on a two-year deal.

One player who doesn’t seem to have a future at the club is striker Vadaine Oliver. With the player still on the books despite game time looking highly unlikely next season, should the club look to end his time at the club mutually, it would probably be the best outcome for both parties at this stage.

How does Bradford’s budget compare to the rest of League Two?

Regarding the size of the clubs at this level, there are not many bigger than Bradford City, and that doesn’t change much despite teams coming and going from the league at the end of each season.

So, it would be expected that the club has a competitive budget each season to aim for promotion with four places available in EFL League Two. Yet, as mentioned, the club is still sitting in the bottom division.

In his open letter, Rupp confirms that Sparks also mentioned his concerns with our budget compared to other clubs. Rupp will hopefully clear this up at the fan forum. Especially to expand on what Rupp means by his comment, “When needed, I have always financially supported the club, though I accept this support will need to go further, and Ryan and I are on the same page with regards to future investment required.”

With Halliday resigning, will players like Pointon also be offered new deals?

With the club already beginning to offer players under contracts new deals, as shown with the recent contract agreed with fan favourite Brad Halliday for another two years, the fans are also keen to know if the club plans to offer players like Bobby Pointon a new contract to tie him down long term after showcasing his ability and potential during his break-through season last term.

Although supporters may have hundreds of questions for those in attendance representing the club, more clarity on transfers, the stadium, the budget, and improved contracts are key areas that the club's hierarchy must answer during this forum to keep fans onside going into next season.