Bradford City: Stefan Rupp is gathering new Valley Parade respect - there is still work to do though | OneFootball

Bradford City owner Stefan Rupp sees a weight lifted from his back after promotion to League One.

After six long years in League Two, Bradford City will finally return to the third-tier for the 25-26 campaign. As a result, club owner Stefan Rupp will see a huge weight lifted from his back.

Culminating in a 96th minute winner against Fleetwood on 3rd May, this season will be remembered for years to come. Bradford needed to match Walsall’s result to secure the final automatic spot heading into the final day, and with the Saddlers leading Crewe 1-0, City needed a goal. Cue promotion expert Antoni Sarcevic, who had not long before skied a close-range effort to his despair, and what ensued in the immediate aftermath was nothing short of spectacular. After his effort trickled into the net, hundreds of fans raced onto the field in their excitement. The roof had been blown off of Valley Parade. Two pitch invasions later and with the club back in League One, the party could officially begin.

A week on, work is already underway to give City the best possible chance next year. Chairman Stefan Rupp will want to ensure that progress continues, and he will be massively relieved that fan opinion on his stewardship is shifting.

Rupp has had to prove himself to Bradford faithful

In recent times Bradford fans have suffered, but this past season has marked a turning point in the club’s history. Supporters have been quick to show their discontent with the running of the club down the years, and rightly so. Since their relegation to the bottom tier, City had been plagued by mismanagement both off and on the field, and prior to this year, had only recorded a play-off finish once. Demonstrations against Rupp in March last year highlighted the growing disconnect between the club and its fan base.

Having been at the protests, you felt the anger directed towards the German. Under him, Bradford had fallen from the brink of the Championship to stagnation in League Two.

In response Rupp promised actions, as he had done many times before. In an open letter to the fans, Rupp said that he would invest more money into the club: "I pledge my support to ensure we are now able to compete in the transfer market, giving us a greater chance of having a closer fight with teams at the top end of the table."

Rupp also acknowledged his previous shortcomings.

"I recognise that, over the past six months in particular, I have not been present enough and have been too quiet. For that, I apologise" - as per the Yorkshire Post.

This time around we finally saw a commitment to change. City invested well in the summer; Tyreik Wright returned for a fee, seven-time promotion winner Sarcevic joined from champions Stockport, and defenders Tayo Adaramola and Jack Shepherd joined the club on loan. Players of such calibre can’t have commanded cheap contracts, thus proof of Rupp putting some money where his mouth is. Though a lot of the credit for this season’s promotion rightfully goes to manager Graham Alexander and his players, the owner deserves plaudits.

Off the pitch, it looks like he has also stepped up. Talks have taken place to begin proceedings for the purchase of Valley Parade from current owner Gordon Gibb, with the current lease ending in 2028. Ownership of the club’s spiritual home has long been a contentious subject after Gibb’s past fallout with key club figures, but Rupp and chief executive Ryan Sparks have done well to repair this relationship to some extent. There was a point in time where it seemed unsalvageable, but now things are back on the table. Buying the ground would not come cheap, but if a sale were to go through, it would be a massive step towards making Bradford City a saleable asset again.

Another thing that supporters, players, and staff have long yearned for is a proper training facility designed for the club. The Bantams currently train at a local private school, and plenty of questions have been raised about how suitable it is as a venue. In fan forums, this issue always arises, so it will certainly be on the agenda. This too, though, would require a significant injection of cash.

Fans accept that Rupp may not be the answer in the long term but, in the meantime, it is imperative that he does everything in his power to ensure this great club is successful.

It is also hoped that he will continue to put money in, to supplement the self-sustainable model that the club is trying to follow. In the recent past, Bradford’s finances have relied on strong season ticket sales, and the sale of youth assets for high fees, with little interference from Rupp. However, the events of this season detail how an invested owner can inspire great triumph. He must now stand by his word and deliver.