City chief executive Julian Rhodes today rubbished rumours that the new board were Geoffrey Richmond puppets.

He spoke out to silence a whispering campaign that suggested Richmond was still pulling the strings behind Rhodes and new chairman Gordon Gibb.

Rhodes said: "Having allowed someone else to control the purse strings for the last five years and ended up in a position whereby my father, mother, sister and family and I have put more or less all our resources into saving the club, I can assure you that some serious lessons have been learned.

"The thought that I am now some kind of puppet to Mr Richmond really is laughable.

"Gordon and I are running the show and we work very well together. The Richmond era is well and truly over."

Rhodes, writing in the programme for today's game, also hit back at claims the club's Up Front store was owned by the previous chairman.

"I can assure all supporters that it is, and always has been, 100 per cent owned by Bradford City."

Rhodes admits that City will have to "box clever" over the next few years after all the financial turmoil. But he is confident Nicky Law can do the job.

He added: "Nicky is a master at getting the most out of players. With a combination of the current squad, youth team players and a few loan signings, we can look forward to a season of tremendous team spirit and incredible hard-working performances.

"I, as a fan, know that we all want to see players who wear the claret and amber with pride."