Lawn: I'm not in the job to be popular

ON HIS ROLE: It's not as I expected it would be. There's a lot more to running a football club than you first come across.

I know how business works but this is different and, as a fan, you get emotional. But you've got to temper that emotion or you run away with it and we've seen what can happen then.

I didn't come into the job to be popular because I knew harsh decisions would have to be made which people aren't going to like. But what those decisions will do is hopefully ensure that this club can keep going long term and then go higher in the leagues and sustain that.

ON JULIAN RHODES: Julian has been working tirelessly for this club for the past six years and I've been able to take a bit of the strain off and let him ease back a little bit. But that means I'm working 60 hours, six days a week now!

I'm not moaning about it, although my health is suffering a little bit. I'll have to do something about getting my fitness back because I've put on nearly two stone since coming here.

You'd think you would eat better in a football club but working all the hours God sends, you just grab anything you can. I'm a diabetic which doesn't help so I'm going to have to balance it a little bit and try to do some more exercise.

But the working relationship with Julian is great. We both respect each other and he knows so much about running a football club - his knowledge is invaluable.

I think we've started to get where we want to be, obviously not on the pitch, but there's a lot more to it than that. We're more customer- oriented now and while I'm not saying we're perfect, we've certainly improved over the six months.

ON COMMERCIAL SIDE: A lot of companies in Bradford were hurt by the two administrations and it's very difficult to win them back in six months. I would be very wary if I was running a business in their situation because of what's gone on. But once they find we've a stable club here, I'm confident some of the commercial people who've side-stepped us will come back on board.

The facilities are very, very good but I don't think the fans understand how much it costs to run this. We've got the least amount of staff working for any club in the league - we are really down to the bone - which is why some of our targets will take a little bit longer.

Overheads for the office block and stadium are huge; the electric bill is frightening. Rates from the council are astronomical and that's before we even get a sponsor in.

ON THE STADIUM: I would buy back the stadium now if I could. The banks would lend me the money because of my previous trading record and I'm quite willing to go lending that money personally. But I don't know whether there's a willingness on the part of the owners to do business.

I have tried to contact him (Gordon Gibb) through his accountant to say I would be interested but nobody got back to me. It's part of a long-term strategy but things like making sure that we've got lights working on a match day are more important for now.

ON RESULTS: It has been a slog but I think we're improving. Bringing in the likes of Billy Topp, who is definitely a footballer, will help but we're going to have to play the right way for him to make an impact. We need more ball players.

You look at Peterborough, who are a brilliant footballing side and don't play route one. Stockport amazed me by playing some lovely little triangles so I think it can be done in this league. You have to be able to play different styles.

ON THE SQUAD: It's not going to be easy to get people to come here. We're not a Championship side, although a lot of our supporters like to think so. We're a "Fourth Division" side - but a "Fourth Division" side without debt and a lot of clubs at this level wish they were the same. It might not please some fans but we've got to work within our budget. Stuart's budget is probably the fourth highest in the division - and with the fourth-highest budget I would have thought we could get somewhere near the play-offs.

Both Julian and myself have over-spent the budget by bringing in Billy. Stuart knows that was above and beyond.

It sends out a message that wherever possible we will stretch it as far as we can within sensible means. But we don't want to get back into situations that we've had before and won't allow that to happen.

ON SUPPORTERS: I think the supporters have been great and that's why we've done the season-ticket offer through December. We wanted to give them something back as a thank you. It annoyed me a bit when people started talking about a hidden agenda - it was a simple idea on our behalf of thanking them for their support.

When the fans get behind our lads, you can see the difference. But I think we're missing the drum which seems to have disappeared for some reason - maybe he's got sore hands!

ON THE INTERNET: One guy on there has done 695 postings or more and every single one's negative. I just laugh at it.

If it's constructive then fine, but I don't take criticism for criticism's sake. I will respond to every letter and phone call that comes in as long as they put their address and number on it.

If you don't want to discuss points then why should I read a load of messages just slagging me off from the likes of "true Bantam"? I don't understand the mentality; if they are that true a Bantam they would contact me in the proper way.

I went on the message boards to see what they thought about Billy finally being signed and some idiot was saying he'd just done his hamstring. Billy was sat in the office next to me and there was nothing wrong with him!

Why would you do that other than for attention-seeking?

If fans want to say something or get us to change things then come in and see me. I'm not an ogre; I don't bite. I understand that you've got loads of different viewpoints but come in and let's talk reasonably.

ON BEING A FAN: It's awful having to behave in front of away directors. The Morecambe game was the lowest point - I sat there for 15 minutes afterwards until David Baldwin told me I had to go and congratulate their directors.

You're feeling for the team and the manager and I had to put on a fixed smile for the Morecambe board.

On the Saturday, I couldn't get out of my pyjamas. I was totally and utterly depressed. My kids were obviously upset and two of my daughters went out and bought me some toffee which brought me round a little bit - I sat there all day munching away in my pyjamas.