Bradford City fans are almost a third of the way towards their dream of raising £10,000 to help ease their club's financial plight.

Members of the Bradford City Supporters' Trust collected nearly £2,000 from fans at the home game against Stoke City on Boxing Day.

The success of the bucket collection means the trust has now raised more than £2,860 for its appeal to provide manager Nicky Law with a fighting fund for new players.

With City still in administration after the trauma of the summer, the Football League set the club a limit of £100,000 to spend on new short-term and loan players to see them through the season.

The club has almost used up all of that cash and faced having to go without any new signings, despite a crippling injury and suspension list.

However, the League has given permission for an extra £10,000 to be spent - as long as it is raised by the City fans.

Today trust deputy chairman Phillip Marshall said he was delighted by the response of supporters.

"It was fantastic to see 40 people give up an hour-and-a-half of their Boxing Day to help," he said.

"Despite the torrential rain, everybody was in really good spirits and every turnstile, including those for away fans, was covered.

"We had a feeling of great satisfaction and pride when we found out how much had been raised.

"The donations came via cheques and cash and it was fantastic to see that the club means so much to so many people."

City chief executive Julian Rhodes said £10,000 could pay for two players such as loan stars Stephen Warnock and Michael Proctor for more than two months.

"It is really encouraging that they can raise that kind of money at just one game," he said. "£10,000 can go a long way in the current market place so we are very grateful for their help."

Mr Marshall said the trust had received more than £70 in donations through the post from people who were unable to get to the game.

Membership forms for the trust are available from PO Box 129, Cleckheaton, BD19 4BG, at www.bcst.co.uk, or at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium ticket office at Valley Parade.