City's managing director, Shaun Harvey, today gave the Bantams the long-term thumbs up.

Harvey was delighted with the youth team victory in Germany earlier this week and the success of England Youth international Simon Francis, believing the twin successes augur well for the future of the club.

And he hopes this week's good news is not overshadowed by the FA investigation into Nicky Law which has brought the club unwarranted, and unfair, bad press in recent days.

"These success stories bode well for the future of the club," said Harvey, known to be furious at inaccurate reporting of the Law story in the national press.

"This is what we want people to hear about and not damaging reports. We don't want people to think this is a club with problems - we have emerged from troubled times and now things are looking bright."

The victory in the International Youth tournament was of particular delight for the Bantams given the strength of the team sent to Hamm in Germany to compete.

"The reality is that the youth team went out there without Simon Francis and Danny Forrest, who could have been eligible," continued Harvey. "So it was a mixture of under-18s, under-17s and some under-15s as the under-16 players were sitting exams.

"They showed what they are capable of and showed the calibre of player we are developing for the future."

Harvey also praised Francis for his performances for the England under-18 team who were successful in the Lisbon tournament.