Chairman Geoffrey Richmond asked Jim Jefferies if he wanted to quit as Bradford City boss because he looked so low in the post-match interviews at Coventry.

Richmond, who wasn't at the final game of the season, was so amazed by the TV pictures on Match of the Day that he called in the manager for a clear-the-air meeting yesterday.

Jefferies admitted next season would be tough because the £5 million wage budget he had been given would not stretch to new signings unless more players are jettisoned - remarks that have shaken supporters who were hoping the Bantams could bounce straight back up.

Richmond said: "I was disappointed with the fairly downbeat nature of the manager's comments that has triggered off a fairly negative reaction.

"I spoke to Jim as a result and expressed my surprise. And I asked the question of whether or not the manager and the rest of his management team, in view of the downbeat nature of what he said, felt they were able to carry on the task ahead.

"They absolutely feel they are and I'm delighted to hear that. Jim hadn't quite realised how downbeat those comments were and hadn't realised the reaction they had provoked.

"I pointed out that they have known for some considerable time the likely size of their players' budget, and I am satisfied following the meeting that the club can now go forward.

"I'm proud to be chairman of Bradford City, where the support from the fans on Saturday was possibly the most enthusiastic that any club at any time in the history of the game had ever received.

"There we were bottom of the table, effectively relegated months ago, and had just been hammered 6-1 by our closest and bitterest rivals. Then in the last game of the season we see a show of support that completely amazed the Coventry people.

"And yet afterwards the manager was so downbeat as though the end of the world had arrived. I was disappointed with that."

Richmond was also annoyed that Jefferies claimed Benito Carbone was still looking for a move back to Italy, which the chairman denies.

He said: "The player is happy at Bradford so why on earth should we say something that is damaging to the player? Now the whole world thinks we've got a homesick Italian.

"It was said in January and it wasn't true and it was regurgitated this week again and it wasn't true.

"If Beni was going anywhere it would be to another English Premiership club. I think it's highly unlikely that an Italian club would be able to put together a package that would interest Benito Carbone.

"I called the meeting because it wouldn't be my way to let it stew or sweep it under the carpet. If there's an issue, I confront it, sort it and then move on.

"As a club it's important the chairman, the manager and the supporters are saying the same thing. That's our strength and it was beautifully illustrated on Saturday at Coventry.

"If we lose any part of that it would be very serious, but fortunately, after the clear-the-air talks, I believe we are now all singing from the same hymn sheet.

"The ambition of the club remains exactly the same as the day I took over in 1994. We will return to the Premier League and we will establish ourselves in the top flight of English football."