Dunfermline today adopted a hard-line stance over the Andy Tod saga.
Tod (pictured) cannot play again for City or they will owe the Scottish club £25,000 appearance money as part of his £150,000 move south of the border.
And Dunfermline, who are in their winter break, have no intention of letting off the cash-strapped Bantams.
Chairman John Yorkston said: "There's not a lot we can do at Dunfermline. If he plays another game then we are due the money.
"We could come to an arrangement about the payment if that was necessary and we will try to help Bradford if we can.
"But the bottom line is that I'm not going to write off the £25,000. It's up to Bradford what they do next.
"Andy Tod has still got another 18 months of his contract to run. Are they going to give us the money or pay him a hell of a lot more than £25,000 for doing nothing for the rest of that time?"
It is an ongoing headache for boss Nicky Law who has been playing centre-half Tod as centre-forward to cover the absence of injured duo Ashley Ward and Danny Cadamarteri.
With resources stretched once again, Law is also hoping to secure Paul Reid for the rest of the season.
The Australian midfielder joined City from Wollongong Wolves on a four-month deal which ran out at the weekend.
Although he has featured only four times, Law is keen to keep hold of Reid. But money could prove a stumbling block.
Law said: "I would like to do something with him, probably short term until the end of the season. But I don't know if we can do it financially.
"I think Paul has done all right in the time he has been with us. They have been difficult circumstances for him to try to make an impression but he's got something there.
"We are a bit low on bodies at the moment and we can't really afford to lose him."
Reid made his debut as a second-half substitute at Portsmouth, but he burst onto the scene in dream fashion in his first start with two goals against Norwich.
He stayed in the side for the next two games at Reading and Brighton but he was substituted in both and has not played since.
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