Bradford City will be releasing more players in the months to come as they as they seek to cut their wage bill still further to cope with life in the First Division next season.

That was the message from chairman Geoffrey Richmond today as he contemplates the consequences of relegation.

City have sold seven players - Dan Petrescu, Isaiah Rankin, Dean Windass, Peter Beagrie, Stan Collymore, David Hopkin and Andrew O'Brien - in the last four months and Richmond said there would more departures.

City's wage bill this season more than doubled from £6m in their first Premiership season to £13m, but Richmond said: "It is likely that a sensible level for next season should be in the order of £5m."

The problem he faces is that there are 'a number of important figures on the income side that are not cast in stone such as season ticket sales and parachute payments made to relegated clubs'.

The annual report made by accounts Deloitte & Touche on England's Premier clubs shows that City's wage bill two seasons ago when they gained promotion to the Premiership was £4.04m, but that increased by 26 per cent to £6.01m last season when they managed to survive in the top flight.

Richmond admitted: "We are guilty of trying to keep in the Premiership and now we are having to pay the price."

He added: "The pressure on Premiership clubs comes from both ends.

"The pressure on the bottom end is the enormous price relegated clubs pay in financial terms and the effect on our income will be about £20m."