It was always going to be tense, but the hordes waiting in the claret and amber banqueting suite had a nerve-jangling half hour as the start of the crunch creditors' meeting was delayed this morning.

Hundreds of fans fell silent at 10am as an official announced a half-hour wait.

"There are last minute negotiations with a couple of the larger creditors," he said.

As a loud hubbub broke out, one man sitting behind me muttered: "Talk about last minute!"

Passing the time, some of the crowd chatted, others flicked through the immense legal documentation, totting up figures for themselves, trying to second-guess what was going on behind closed doors.

At least 600 people were there, a few suited business creditors alongside others owed a couple of hundred pounds for their season tickets. For some it was a family day out, with youngsters accompanying dads to the home ground of Valley Parade.

Claret and amber shirts were dotted among the rank upon rank of fans.

Quiet fell as Geoffrey Richmond appeared in a dark suit, looking slightly tense, lighting a cigarette before the meeting even started.

Fans listened intently as one of the administrators began the litany of debts, some of them for mind-boggling amounts. There was the £6.7 million owed here, £4.2 million there.

The assets raised a few laughs. There were snorts as the land on which Valley Parade is built was said to be worth £600,000.

Two houses - one famously for star player Benito Carbone, the other accommodation for youth players - were worth almost £900,000 between them.

Fixtures and fittings were said to be worth £20,000.

A murmur went around the room as the club's total debts were announced at £36,180,000.

But the crucial announcement was near. A total of 75 per cent of the creditors had to be in favour of the salvage package.

As the 86 per cent agreement figure of votes already cast before the meeting was announced, the room erupted in applause. The mood was lighter and questions and answers began.

John Dewhirst, a lifelong fan and 25-year season ticket holder, spoke of the need for fans and the club to work together. The futures of both the club and of the city of Bradford itself were at stake. "The eyes of the world are on us," he said.

"There's no point dwelling on the past. We have to be united in going forward," he added, to loud applause. Mr Dewhirst will be the fans' representative on a new three-person creditors' forum.

Fans asked detailed questions of Geoffrey Richmond and David Rhodes, who had combined their financial clout to salvage the club.

Would financial constraints prevent new players being brought into the club? one fan wanted to know. "You've got to speculate to accumulate," he suggested to Mr Richmond, who had memorably said a few weeks of madness in bringing in expensive star players had spectacularly backfired and brought the club to these dire straits.

Mr Richmond's face was a picture. "We did try to speculate to accumulate!" he said. "I will be trying another system from now on."

Hundreds of faces turned to representatives of the Professional Footballers Association and the Football League as they were able to answer queries and give information.

More warm applause broke out as club manager Nicky Law was thanked for his professional approach during the period of administration.

Necks were craned for any dissent in a final and unanimous vote to accept the finance deal to safeguard the club.

Only nine days away, Bradford City will play their first game of a new season, and a new era.