Bradford face expulsion from league

By Paul Holland
May 23 2002

Today, Bradford City Football Club axed 19 professional football players from their squad despite receiving a warning from the Football Association.

The FA said that if Bradford City torn up any players contracts then they could face being kicked out of the Football League. I personally think that if Bradford City are kicked out of the league then it would give Rangers and Celtic a reason to join.

Earlier today Bradford City released the information below on their website:

Mike Moore, Partner of Kroll Buchler Phillips and Joint Administrator of Bradford City football club, today provided a statement regarding the ongoing situation at Valley Parade:

"Since our appointment we have been reviewing the cost base of the club looking at ways in which reductions to the overheads could be made during the period of our Administration. Indeed, earlier this week we were forced to take the decision to make 39 members of the club's non-playing staff redundant.

"Regrettably, we announced today with immediate effect the redundancies of 19 members of the playing staff. Three of the 19 players had already been informed prior to the Administration that their contracts, which finish at the end of June, were not going to be renewed. Where possible, the 19 players have been contacted to inform them of this decision. Specifically we have informed the PFA and we have attempted to speak to each player concerned and/or their agent by telephone.

"In the close season, players have a limited period to take holidays and it has not been possible to contact all of them. We apologise in advance to those players who we have not had a chance to contact personally, however we have no choice other than to take this action now. Formal letters have been sent to all parties and we are continuing to attempt to contact players personally to advice them of the situation.

"This decision was not taken lightly and it was made for purely economic reasons because there is no money available to pay the players concerned. Reducing the playing squad in this manner will save the club approximately £20,000 a day, which, during the close season when no significant money comes into the club, is vital in our efforts to save this club. Any
Administrator can only operate within the confines of the limited funds available. Put simply, in case of Bradford City, we can only retain employees for whom we have sufficient income to cover their costs.

"In arriving at our decision, we have not contravened the Football League Regulations. We are aware that pursuit to Article 6 the Board of the Football League has an absolute discretion in deciding whether a purchaser becomes a member of the Football League. We are confident that the Board of the Football League will, upon a sale of this club, agree to a purchaser of the club being a member and will exercise its discretion in good faith acting reasonably and take into account public policy consideration and the interests of football as a whole.

"We are also confident that as part of our reconstruction plan once a buyer is found - and we have received enquiries from 9 interested parties – and the club is sold that Bradford City will exit Administration and its future will be secured. Once this occurs, Nicky Law, with the new owners will be able to begin planning for next season."
 

All players at Bradford City
1. Walsh, G
2. Atherton, P
3. Myers, A
4. McCall, S
5. Wetherall, D
6. Whalley, G
7. Lawrence, J
8. Ward, A
9. Carbone, B
10. Jess, E
11. Molenaar, R
12. Locke, G
13. Davison, A
14. Halle , G
15. Jorgensen, C
16. Jacobs, W
17. Juanjo
18. Tod, A
19. Cadamateri, D
20. Standing, M
21. Kearney, T
22. Bower, M
23. Lee, A
24. Emanuel, L
25. Beach, NT
26. Bentham, CM
27. Brodie, K
28. Fishlock, C
29. Flynn, L
30. Forrest, D
31. Hatton, PD
32. Lo-Piccolo, G
33. McGahey, P
34. Morgan, R
35. Penford, T
36. Rutherford, J
37. Sanasy, K
38. Swift, J
39. Tyson, G
40. Worsnop, J

Players whose contracts have been terminated
1. Walsh, G
2. Atherton, P
3. Myers, A
4. Wetherall, D
5. Lawrence, J
6. Ward, A
7. Carbone, B
8. Jess, E
9. Molenaar, R
10. Locke, G
11. Davison, A
12. Jorgensen, C
13. Jacobs, W
14. Juanjo
15. Tod, A
16. Cadamateri, D


Players whose contracts expire at end of June and will not be renewed
1. McCall, S
2. Halle, G
3. Whalley, G

Players who remain at the club
1. Standing, M
2. Kearney, T
3. Bower, M
4. Lee, A
5. Emanuel, L
6. Beach, NT
7. Bentham, CM
8. Brodie, K
9. Fishlock, C
10. Flynn, L
11. Forrest, D
12. Hatton, PD
13. Lo-Piccolo, G
14. McGahey, P
15. Morgan, R
16. Penford, T
17. Rutherford, J
18. Sanasy, K
19. Swift, J
20. Tyson, G
21. Worsnop, J

Articles of the Football League
Article 4 - Membership
4.1 - A Member Club must be incorporated under the Companies Act.
4.2 - A share may only be registered in the name of a Member Club or, by the discretion of the Board, in the name of the Company Secretary
4.3 - As a member, the Company Secretary cannot attend, speak or vote at any General Meeting
4.4 - Apart from the Company Secretary, no Member Club shall hold more than one share.
4.5 - In each of the following circumstances the Board may give the Member Club or the Company Secretary written notice to transfer its share(s) to such person as the Board shall specify at the price of 5p per share.
4.6 - Notwithstanding the circumstances, such notice shall be served on the Member Club at its registered office or in the case of the Company Secretary at his last known address. In case of default after 14 days, the Board may authorize some person to execute the necessary transfer on behalf of the registered member which shall be legally binding on the parties. The
transferee shall be entered in the register of members and issued with a new share certificate.
4.7 - The circumstances are:
4.7.1 - if any person other than a Member Club or the Company Secretary shall be a registered shareholder;
4.7.2 - if a Member Club shall hold more than one share;
4.7.3 - if any Member Club shall cease to be a person entitled to hold a share; or
4.7.4 - if any Member club shall:
4.7.4.1 - have a manager, receiver or administrative receiver appointed in respect of that Member club or any part of its undertaking or assets;
4.7.4.2 - have a petition presented in respect of it for an administration order or if an administration order shall be made in respect of that Member Club;
4.7.4.3 - have a winding-up order made in respect of that Member Club;
4.7.4.4 - pass a resolution for the winding-up order of that Member Club; or
4.7.4.5 - enter into any arrangement with its creditors or some part of them in respect of the payment of its debts or part of them as a company voluntary arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986;
4.7.5 - if the Company Secretary shall have ceased to hold such office or shall have died.

4.8 - The Board shall give such notice within 28 days of being notified of any such event and shall have authority to give such notice suspended for a period and to impose such conditions on the Member Club as the Board decides. The Board may amend or withdraw any of the conditions and impose new conditions at any time. The Board may subsequently withdraw the notice if Football Creditors are paid in full or payment in full is secured and any other conditions are satisfied.

4.9 - Any Member Club taking or suffering any such action as described in Article 4.7 shall notify the League Secretary in writing immediately.

Article 6 - Transferring shares
6.1 - Subject to the provisions of Article 4, the Board may, in their absolute discretion and without giving any reason for its actions, refuse to register any transfer of shares.

70.1 - Where a member club defaults in making any payment due to any of the following persons, the Member Club ('Defaulting Club') shall be subject to such penalty as the Board may decide and subject also to article 70.2;
70.1.1 - The League, The FA Premier League and The Football Association
70.1.2 - any of the Pension Schemes;
70.1.3 - any Member Club and any Club of The FA Premier League;
70.1.4 - any holding company of The League and any subsidiary company of that holding company;
70.1.5 -any sums due to any full-time employee or former full-time employee of the Member Club by way of arrears of remuneration up to the date on which that contract of employment is terminated. This excludes for these purposes all and any claims for redundancy, unfair or
wrongful dismissal or other claims arising out of the termination of the contract or in respect of any period after the actual date of termination;
70.1.6 - any sums due to the Professional Footballers Association in repayment of an interest free loan together with such reasonable administration and legal costs as have been approved by the Board;
70.1.7 - The Football Foundation;
70.1.8 - The Football Conference Limited;
70.1.9 - The Northern Premier League Limited;
70.1.10 - The Isthmian League Limited;
70.1.11 - The Southern League Limited;
70.1.12 - Any member club of the League or organizations listed in Articles 70.1.8 to 70.1.11 inclusive;
70.1.13 - Any County Football Association affiliated to The Football Association, and;
70.1.14 - Any Leagues affiliated to The Football Association and any clubs affiliated to any County Football Association recognized by The Football Association.


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