BANTAMS SUPPORTERS TRUST

After much speculation surrounding the possibility that he was to leave for Preston North End, and then confirmation that the Club had reluctantly let him talk to the Club on the 24 th September, we reflect with sadness that it has finally been confirmed on Monday 28 th that Graham Alexander has now left the Club. He had been with us for almost 3 years from November 2023 when he picked up the struggling team, that by the end of that campaign, narrowly missed promotion by just one point of reaching the Play-Offs. The following season, his first full season brought us automatic promotion in the one of the most dramatic end of last matches of the season at Valley Parade in the Club’s history. There were scenes of unbridled joy that afternoon that seemed all the difficult years of lack of success and ambition had evaporated into the air. During that season the team managed to win 10 consecutive home wins. In our new League one season Graham Alexander led his team into the playoffs but unsuccessful in reaching the dizzy heights of the Championship. Graham Alexander in his time as manager brought in a raft of new players and was able bring the team together. He brought a confidence to the team and with it a team that could fight for points and beat teams, and the success on the pitch brought fans back and won many new ones. Fans could sing with pride. But we must not dwell on what we have lost. A manager’s career is very short these days at any one club, and we must look to ahead and wish success to Graham Alexander, one of the revered amongst the Club’s support base and his assistant manager, Chris Lucketti at Preston North End. In the interim period while we wait for a new manager we must give our support to Mark Trueman and Colin Doyle. With all the success we have had in the time Graham Alexander has been with us, he leaves us in a stronger position as a club financially and a much more exciting prospect as a club to come to as a manager. With a big support base, all the ingredients are there for much more successes at Bradford City. We are only at the beginning of October, so we are sure have a few bumps on the journey.

The Supporters Trust would like to bring up some issues that have been brought to our attention by disabled supporters and elderly supporters attending away games and how upsetting they can be. My name is Helen Jeffery, a disabled supporter, and an avid City fan who has recently joined the Supporters Trust Board. At away grounds disabled supporters are often allocated places directly behind the goal or to the left or right at the front of an away enclosure. As a result, and in particularly when we bring a big following, we often find that that intoxicated supporters are coming down the steps, standing in front of us blocking our line of site, pushing and jostling wheelchairs and even falling on our supporters. It can be frightening and even when the stewards step in to quell the situation, some of those supporters argue and refuse to move. This is particularly evident when celebrating goals. It can put vulnerable supporters at risk to injury. The Trust is appealing to anyone who knows any of these supporters to just remind them that not all disabilities are visible and to be more mindful of other supporters around them. I love the team as much as the next supporter but games are becoming harder to go to when you are frightened of your own fan-base. We have raised these issues several times with the Club and the West Yorkshire Police Dedicated Football Officer, see our last report of when we raised safety issues, and I have contacted other clubs, and lessons are being learnt by clubs but we still need your support to help us make the game safer so that we can all go, be safe and enjoy the beautiful game we all love. Thank you in advance for supporting this appeal and if anyone has any feedback/ideas and your own experiences for me please email the Trust at hello@bantamstrust.co.uk and I will contact you directly. We have also asked our Club to put out a message on matchdays appealing for fans to be mindful and considerate, as it may have more impact. Forever Bantams Helen Jeffery Women’s and Disability Officer

In attendance from the Club were Ryan Sparks (RS) – Club CEO and Liam Mould (LM) – Fan Engagement Officer. Representing the Supporters Trust there was Manny Dominguez (MD – Chair and Helen Jeffrey No apologies were given. Minutes from last meeting were agreed. Bantams Supporters Trust met with the Club on Monday 10 th Aug. We last met on June 1 st , so as ever, as we approach the new season, there was still a lot to catch up on. So, without further ado lets dive into it. Season ticket breakdown The Trust asked for a breakdown of the latest season ticket figures ahead of the start of the new season. Ryan confirmed that the announcement for the tally was to be on Friday 14th August to coincide with start of the season. on the website, here . A total of 16,352 season tickets have been sold ahead of our 2026/27 League One campaign, an increase of 326 on the total this time last year – A Club record! Looking at the figures in detail, broadly speaking it is a positive that the figures have grown in all areas of sales, and looking those who have renewed it is an achievement to have such an increase on last season – 14,203 compared with 13,089, the numbers increased (1,823) considerably on those not renewing (472) compared with last season. Also increases on last season for under 24’s – 1,160 over, 1,047 respectively were not as big as those increases in those under 17’s – 1,566 this season compared with 1,388 last season. It shows the marked increase due to the frozen prices in that area. Also in the increases of new season ticket sales, they fell, 2,149, compared with 2,937 last season. Failure to get promoted will have played it’s part in those deciding to buy and renew as well. Season ticket Allocations All hard copy (card) season tickets went out up to and including 7th August. Any issues to be reported to the ticket office staff. The Club want to phase out the card. Technical issues had slowed down virtual (email) tickets. RS discussed the future of season tickets and a scenario whereby the ticket could disappear and the service would become a rolling subscription with the facility to opt in or out. 61% of season ticket holders already pay direct debit. The example of having other direct debits for energy bills, Council Tax or TV subscriptions, and paying for your seat at football would be just like paying any other bill. We asked about consultation before decisions are made. This LM and RS both agreed would need consultation. MD was unsure about this as a long-term solution, noting people don't like change. Liam echoed this but also said progress needs to happen. Reciprocal deals In terms of matching the gate costs, Ryan stated that this would have an impact on home and away fans. Pricing would become messy and he didn't want to do to Sheffield Wednesday what they have done to us. MD agreed and said that a Sheffield local paper had emailed the Trust asking for a comment. However, MD explained that reciprocal deals wasn’t about reciprocating existing prices, but instead, attempting to lower them. He explained that the method of reaching a reciprocal deal arrangement was firstly about contacting other Clubs within our division and seeing if other Clubs were willing to participate in reduce prices for their fixtures with us, and if they are, then we would reciprocate the offer for their fans when they visit Valley Parade. Fans would see great value in this idea. Affordable football reflects financial performance RS said and talked about the running costs and season tickets and stated pricing and low pricing could never be guaranteed. Mascots We also raised the price of mascot package, because we felt the price of becoming one has become out of reach for ordinary families, see prices here . We felt that perhaps children that don’t have the best opportunities in life could have the opportunity to get to a match and do it in style by being a mascot. LM liked the idea, and HJ raised the idea of children in social care as an example of those who wouldn’t normally be able to get the opportunity to be able to get one. Matchday: Food & drink queues on the concourse The club are going to increase capacity this season. The old betting kiosks are going to be used for food/drink going forward to aid congestion, format to be confirmed, hopefully 5 more. They could just be for alcohol. Food choices RS said we’re hoping to see changes on the concourses with Tiffin. Upstairs in the suites we have Northern Kitchen. HJ felt there has been a lack of media & fan engagement over suite foods. RS said that they are going to test menus early doors and any poor sellers will not be put on again. He said It's hoped the food in the suites will be better to anything we’ve had before. We discussed briefly that the electrics in the Kiosks need upgrading which would allow chips being served – the number one favourite request in our surveys. This has now happened in the Morrisons Family Stand – offering loaded chips too. Stadium improvements We have the revamped the 2013 suite and renamed it the Victory Suite, the Legends Suite is now the players lounge and the 1911 Bar has been converted into two boxes and private bar area. These have been prices at approximately £17k and have sold out in a very short period of time. They cost £70k to refit There are other areas of the ground like the floodlights, the PA system and putting fibre in the pitch to do but will have to wait until next season It was mentioned how the infrastructure was 20 years behind and not very welcoming. The Club are investing bit by bit every season. The issue of having to prioritise of investment in the stadium, which competes with investing in the team was talked about too. In the stands all the seats have now been re-seated. Family / Father and daughter toilets HJ stated that she had seen Dad/children using the disabled toilet in West Stand, but no changing station available. LM said they had been looking into improving baby changing facilities but they would come at a 4 figure cost. LM had discussed the idea of converting some disability toilets where they could add a baby changing facility into it, but it would lose its disability status doing that. He raised the idea if raising the money through supporter funds. HJ also raised hygiene was also a concern when using the toilets. Club matchday activities in other stands and Trust stall LM raised that we now have Bronte Bantam to pair up with Billy Bantam, introduced to be inclusive for the girls coming to football to promote the girls game. The name Bronte is a nod to Bradford City of Culture, Strong Women in history and locality. The two mascots cost to sponsor is £20K and that has happened LM also discussed West Stand Sub Soccer Zone, or Junior Bantams Game Zone area – a sit-down area of physical activity and a rebranded gaming zone. LM said that they will try rotation of activities in the Main Stand to the Midland Rd stand. MD asked if we can rotate the stall to the Midland Rd. LM agreed and said we also have the Northwest Corner as an option as well. There will be a new away supporters fan-zone at Saltaire Brewery, Shipley this season. Heritage: Mural idea MD raised the idea of a mural of past and present heroes in the dressing room or a design, a tribute to Bobby Campbell and others could go on the concourse of the Midland Road. LM offered the idea that supporter populated areas would be what we would go for. LM thought a collaboration with us and the club would be great PR for both organisations and we could do it as a donation-based option, e.g. £20 per person and All sponsors would be able to chip in. Names of supporters donating would be named in a press release on it’s completion. LM said it would be £695+ for a small area. This shows that City are covering the dull grey spaces and fans can sponsor. Improving our Structured Dialogue / Fan Engagement MD explained that whilst our statement and details of meetings with the Club were on the website, the PDF image appeared to be of a low resolution so didn’t show well. LM said that this can be rectified We also raised suggested that The Burns Unit Collection and Memorial could be another ‘Working Group’ to ensure an improved fan engagement and bigger funds raised when they come round each year. MD also said that the Governance meeting hadn’t been as consistent over the course of last season. Football Governance and the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) The Club have signed up to be a pilot Club, 1 out of 10, to sign up for a provisional license pilot scheme to show the Independent Football Regulator it has nothing to hide financially and that we are not in any financial danger. During the Summer the IFR organized a pilot phase for a representative group of clubs to trial the provisional license application process ahead of the official window opening in November 2026. Clubs will need to demonstrate the soundness of their financial plans to the new independent football regulator (IFR), demonstrate how they are engaging with supporters and meet corporate governance standards in order to secure a provisional license. All clubs in the top five tiers of men's football in England will need a license to play from 2027-28. For further reading on the Football Governance Act and what it means for you, click here . For further reading on The IFR powers and licensing, click here . Financial Performances When asked if departments within the Club don’t do so well if they can be assisted by another, RS yes. As the world is changing so are our spending habits. 48 hours before the Rochdale League Cup game 2½ thousand tickets had been sold and in the last 36 hours a total or 4 thousand had bought them, showing that people are holding onto their cash for longer. The health of the Club is in part underpinned by the national economy and the national economy is part of a more volatile competition of a global market We asked about the cost of keeping us safe on a match day operation, and RS said the cost of that is more than half a million pounds. The quality of stewards were discussed. We asked if the Club would consider in house employment and the answer was no in catering but retail has been previously brought back in house. Currently, KitKing operate the club’s retail operation. Retail We asked about having a pop-up shop for Christmas.  Ryan talked about memorabilia Collectors who buy everything but our figures show 75% fans are passive. The club vision should be better stock turnover more often. The Pop up won’t viable due to costs/overheads/staffing and logistics. RS said the club would like to implement a system inhouse where you buy online and pay and the item is placed in a locker in the stand you are in. A QR code would give you access to collect your purchase. Stefan Rupp’s Investment Rupp still invests another £3 million projected loss to be spent in all areas, same as last season.