Back us or watch us fail - that is the stark warning from City chairman Gordon Gibb today.

Gibb urged fans to take a reality check as he hit back at criticism following a string of poor results.

And he attacked the apathy of Bradford's business community to help the club in their on-going financial struggle.

Gibb came out fighting and accused supporters of glossing over the effects of last year's administration.

"People have very short memories and already a degree of complacency has returned," he said. "It is bemusing that certain individuals are under the impression that the club is back on an even keel.

"You cannot wipe out £30m worth of debt in 14 months of poor trading.

"All of our calculations were based on past attendances and achievable levels of support. Unfortunately our sustainability has been compromised again because external assistance has been few and far between to the point of being lamentable."

Gibb revealed that there was a £500,000 shortfall in cashflow predictions and admitted stay-away protests for Nottingham Forest's visit on Saturday would achieve nothing.

"The city needs to ask itself some fundamental questions about its sporting ambition for the club. Most importantly, does it want its team to play at a high level?

"Attendance are dwindling to that of a lower league club and the level of commercial support from Bradford business is nothing short of woeful."

In January Gibb called on businesses to invest £50,000 in City in exchange for sponsorship and a seat on the board. It went largely unanswered apart from the TL Dallas-backed Bradford End stand.

He plans to hold a meeting with selected firms next week to bang the drum again. But he admits that his family and the Rhodes cannot continue bankrolling the club unaided.

Gibb added: "If our invitation is ignored, we will know how little our local businesses think of our club. Two families are doing all they can to preserve Bradford City's status but there is no such thing as a bottomless pit.

"With fans deserting us from the stands and a distinct lack of appetite from local businesses to get involved, there is a cloud hanging over the club.

"We've fought too hard to give up now but I must admit that some help would be nice."