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Todd: I could have saved City from relegation
7:14am Monday 19th May 2008
Comments (138) Have your say »
Colin Todd admits it is a "crying shame" to see City playing in the bottom division.
Todd, now in charge of Randers FC in Denmark, was sacked in February last year - three months before the Bantams were relegated to League Two.
When I was dismissed we were not in the bottom four. We had endured a bad run but in my opinion it wasn’t disastrous... There were plenty of games left to turn it round – it was a crying shame that they didn’t make it
Colin Todd
In his new autobiography Toddy', the former boss revealed he had probably taken the club as far as he could.
But Todd still maintains he would have pulled the team out of the tail-spin which eventually sent them tumbling into the league basement.
Todd said: "When I was dismissed we were not in the bottom four. We had endured a bad run (three wins from 20 games) but in my opinion it wasn't disastrous.
"Yes, we needed to raise our game but we had been in this situation before and come through it. There were plenty of games left to turn it round - it was a crying shame that they didn't make it.
"I took no pleasure in Bradford's relegation. I had enjoyed my time there and I was leaving behind some good players and nice people.
"If I am totally honest, I had reached a point with Bradford where I could not take the club any further forward.
"The club needed investment in a big way if it was to have any chance of restoring former glories."
In his book, which has been co-written with former City vice-chairman Jim Brown, Todd talks in detail about the financial struggles that cursed his second spell at the club as Bryan Robson's number two and then manager.
He even reveals that part of his wages helped pay another club employee.
Todd said: "Administration brings any football club a whole host of problems. You simply stagger from match to match without any light at the end of the tunnel.
"Your best players are up for grabs, usually at discounted prices, your loan options are at best severely restricted or disappear completely and staff just vanish.
"I agreed to take the lowest wage possible and even allowed a proportion of that wage to be paid to another member of staff just to keep the club going.
"Just when you think you have seen everything, something happens to stop you in your tracks."
Todd admitted the fateful 2006-07 campaign had begun with "the worst pre-season I have endured in all my times in football", with City losing five out of their six friendlies.
The Bantams still began that season with a bang but results dropped off dramatically from October and they slumped down League One.
Yet Todd was still caught unawares when the axe fell after a 1-0 defeat at Gillingham.
He said: "There is a saying that it's not over until the fat lady sings. Unbeknown to me, she had the microphone in her hand.
"I never thought my job was under threat until I received a call after the Gillingham game to see the chairman on Monday morning. This set alarm bells ringing as it was an unusual request.
"I had enjoyed a good relationship with Julian Rhodes and was full of admiration for what he and his family had done for the club but it did not make it any easier.
"He only wanted the best for the football club, which I could understand, but I was a little miffed to find out I was the only one of the management team that had been sacked.
"I put that down to the financial constraints the club was under. Nobody ever said life was fair."
Rhodes said: "I hope that history will be kind to Colin's tenure. I know it should be."
- Toddy' is published by Breedon Books. Colin Todd will be signing copies of his book at Waterstones in Hustlergate on Thursday, May 29 between midday and 1pm.
- Start or join a debate on this issue in our online forum - Click here
Your Say YourBradford
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
7:25am Mon 19 May 08
In the two games prior to his sacking, we drew 2-2 at home to Forest in an entertaining and even game against top of the table. At Gillingham we lost 0-1 and we had 10 men of 70 mins or so after Youga was sent off. Hardly a disastrous result under the circumstances. We weren't actually playing bad football, we just weren't getting the rub of the green. Rhodes and his family saved the club and I'll be forever grateful, but sacking Todd was a rare mistake!
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
7:25am Mon 19 May 08
In the two games prior to his sacking, we drew 2-2 at home to Forest in an entertaining and even game against top of the table. At Gillingham we lost 0-1 and we had 10 men of 70 mins or so after Youga was sent off. Hardly a disastrous result under the circumstances. We weren't actually playing bad football, we just weren't getting the rub of the green. Rhodes and his family saved the club and I'll be forever grateful, but sacking Todd was a rare mistake!
Size3, Woodside or Bradford City Center says...
9:02am Mon 19 May 08
Size3, Woodside or Bradford City Center says...
9:02am Mon 19 May 08
Size3, Woodside or Bradford City Center says...
9:02am Mon 19 May 08
JM, Skipton says...
9:06am Mon 19 May 08
Todd would have kept City up, I personally believe, then we could have got rid of him in the summer when it was a better time to make a change.
what shouldn;t be forgotten was the way fans treated him, which at times was awful. I remember him been interviewed after the cheltenham draw with fans staying back to sing "Todd out", his car getting trashed on boxing day and so many fans chanting Todd out against Bournemouth, when we'd had to play 80 minutes of the game with ten men following Deano's stupidity.
the positive of when Todd went was it reunited the fans, there was a major split of opinion. However we shouldn't have got relegated in 2006-07 and I believe we would have survived were it not for sacking Todd.
though of course losing JJ, Deano and Doyle was a major blow as well.
JM, Skipton says...
9:06am Mon 19 May 08
Todd would have kept City up, I personally believe, then we could have got rid of him in the summer when it was a better time to make a change.
what shouldn;t be forgotten was the way fans treated him, which at times was awful. I remember him been interviewed after the cheltenham draw with fans staying back to sing "Todd out", his car getting trashed on boxing day and so many fans chanting Todd out against Bournemouth, when we'd had to play 80 minutes of the game with ten men following Deano's stupidity.
the positive of when Todd went was it reunited the fans, there was a major split of opinion. However we shouldn't have got relegated in 2006-07 and I believe we would have survived were it not for sacking Todd.
though of course losing JJ, Deano and Doyle was a major blow as well.
JM, Skipton says...
9:06am Mon 19 May 08
Todd would have kept City up, I personally believe, then we could have got rid of him in the summer when it was a better time to make a change.
what shouldn;t be forgotten was the way fans treated him, which at times was awful. I remember him been interviewed after the cheltenham draw with fans staying back to sing "Todd out", his car getting trashed on boxing day and so many fans chanting Todd out against Bournemouth, when we'd had to play 80 minutes of the game with ten men following Deano's stupidity.
the positive of when Todd went was it reunited the fans, there was a major split of opinion. However we shouldn't have got relegated in 2006-07 and I believe we would have survived were it not for sacking Todd.
though of course losing JJ, Deano and Doyle was a major blow as well.
STM, Bratfud says...
9:10am Mon 19 May 08
I hope 'THE BOARD' have taken on BOARD, their mistakes. To sell two top players, and sack 'Toddy' without appointing another Manager,caused the clubs' relegation. THE BOARD should have allowed 'Toddy' to save the club,as he had done before,under terrible circumstances.
Then, at the end of the Season, made their moves for Stuart McCall.(I said this at the time of 'Toddys''sacking)
STM, Bratfud says...
9:10am Mon 19 May 08
I hope 'THE BOARD' have taken on BOARD, their mistakes. To sell two top players, and sack 'Toddy' without appointing another Manager,caused the clubs' relegation. THE BOARD should have allowed 'Toddy' to save the club,as he had done before,under terrible circumstances.
Then, at the end of the Season, made their moves for Stuart McCall.(I said this at the time of 'Toddys''sacking)
STM, Bratfud says...
9:10am Mon 19 May 08
I hope 'THE BOARD' have taken on BOARD, their mistakes. To sell two top players, and sack 'Toddy' without appointing another Manager,caused the clubs' relegation. THE BOARD should have allowed 'Toddy' to save the club,as he had done before,under terrible circumstances.
Then, at the end of the Season, made their moves for Stuart McCall.(I said this at the time of 'Toddys''sacking)
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
9:18am Mon 19 May 08
JM wrote:Hear hear.
sacking Todd was a huge mistake when he didn, appointing Wetherall as caretaker clearly made us weaker. Not criticising the City captain, but he was badly needed on the pitch and it was too much to ask him to do both roles. Todd would have kept City up, I personally believe, then we could have got rid of him in the summer when it was a better time to make a change. what shouldn;t be forgotten was the way fans treated him, which at times was awful. I remember him been interviewed after the cheltenham draw with fans staying back to sing "Todd out", his car getting trashed on boxing day and so many fans chanting Todd out against Bournemouth, when we'd had to play 80 minutes of the game with ten men following Deano's stupidity. the positive of when Todd went was it reunited the fans, there was a major split of opinion. However we shouldn't have got relegated in 2006-07 and I believe we would have survived were it not for sacking Todd. though of course losing JJ, Deano and Doyle was a major blow as well.
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
9:18am Mon 19 May 08
JM wrote:Hear hear.
sacking Todd was a huge mistake when he didn, appointing Wetherall as caretaker clearly made us weaker. Not criticising the City captain, but he was badly needed on the pitch and it was too much to ask him to do both roles. Todd would have kept City up, I personally believe, then we could have got rid of him in the summer when it was a better time to make a change. what shouldn;t be forgotten was the way fans treated him, which at times was awful. I remember him been interviewed after the cheltenham draw with fans staying back to sing "Todd out", his car getting trashed on boxing day and so many fans chanting Todd out against Bournemouth, when we'd had to play 80 minutes of the game with ten men following Deano's stupidity. the positive of when Todd went was it reunited the fans, there was a major split of opinion. However we shouldn't have got relegated in 2006-07 and I believe we would have survived were it not for sacking Todd. though of course losing JJ, Deano and Doyle was a major blow as well.
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
9:18am Mon 19 May 08
JM wrote:Hear hear.
sacking Todd was a huge mistake when he didn, appointing Wetherall as caretaker clearly made us weaker. Not criticising the City captain, but he was badly needed on the pitch and it was too much to ask him to do both roles. Todd would have kept City up, I personally believe, then we could have got rid of him in the summer when it was a better time to make a change. what shouldn;t be forgotten was the way fans treated him, which at times was awful. I remember him been interviewed after the cheltenham draw with fans staying back to sing "Todd out", his car getting trashed on boxing day and so many fans chanting Todd out against Bournemouth, when we'd had to play 80 minutes of the game with ten men following Deano's stupidity. the positive of when Todd went was it reunited the fans, there was a major split of opinion. However we shouldn't have got relegated in 2006-07 and I believe we would have survived were it not for sacking Todd. though of course losing JJ, Deano and Doyle was a major blow as well.
ETN, Bingley says...
10:06am Mon 19 May 08
3 wins in 20 games wasn't disastrous? It was relegation form and we were in freefall - we'd have gone down with or without one of the worst managers I can remember in 20 years of watching City - and his contempt for the fans sealed his fate, the guy's interviews on the Pulse after games were a joke.
ETN, Bingley says...
10:06am Mon 19 May 08
3 wins in 20 games wasn't disastrous? It was relegation form and we were in freefall - we'd have gone down with or without one of the worst managers I can remember in 20 years of watching City - and his contempt for the fans sealed his fate, the guy's interviews on the Pulse after games were a joke.
ETN, Bingley says...
10:06am Mon 19 May 08
3 wins in 20 games wasn't disastrous? It was relegation form and we were in freefall - we'd have gone down with or without one of the worst managers I can remember in 20 years of watching City - and his contempt for the fans sealed his fate, the guy's interviews on the Pulse after games were a joke.
peanut4, Darlington says...
10:19am Mon 19 May 08
Now let's look to the future. Todd, shut up, once and for all, and concentrate on your current job. I notice you started well at Randers, and have taken them down the league at an alarming rate. Much like you did at City every season.
peanut4, Darlington says...
10:19am Mon 19 May 08
Now let's look to the future. Todd, shut up, once and for all, and concentrate on your current job. I notice you started well at Randers, and have taken them down the league at an alarming rate. Much like you did at City every season.
peanut4, Darlington says...
10:19am Mon 19 May 08
Now let's look to the future. Todd, shut up, once and for all, and concentrate on your current job. I notice you started well at Randers, and have taken them down the league at an alarming rate. Much like you did at City every season.
broncolayne, Bradford says...
10:40am Mon 19 May 08
peanut4 wrote:Maybe this is the reason Toddy keeps going on about saving City from relegation(Toddy' is published by Breedon Books. Colin Todd will be signing copies of his book at Waterstones in Hustlergate on Thursday, May 29 between midday and 1pm)just wondering what input Jim Brown has had with his quick retreat as City's vice chairman last week.
Why does Colin Todd keep thinking he has to say he could have saved us from relegation? Isn't this the third time he's done it? Maybe he could, maybe he couldn't. But who cares? He's gone, long gone, and thank the lord he's gone. For long periods, his was the most boring football team I've seen at City - and that includes John Docherty. Unfortunately for Todd, City only played well in patches. Now let's look to the future. Todd, shut up, once and for all, and concentrate on your current job. I notice you started well at Randers, and have taken them down the league at an alarming rate. Much like you did at City every season.
broncolayne, Bradford says...
10:40am Mon 19 May 08
peanut4 wrote:Maybe this is the reason Toddy keeps going on about saving City from relegation(Toddy' is published by Breedon Books. Colin Todd will be signing copies of his book at Waterstones in Hustlergate on Thursday, May 29 between midday and 1pm)just wondering what input Jim Brown has had with his quick retreat as City's vice chairman last week.
Why does Colin Todd keep thinking he has to say he could have saved us from relegation? Isn't this the third time he's done it? Maybe he could, maybe he couldn't. But who cares? He's gone, long gone, and thank the lord he's gone. For long periods, his was the most boring football team I've seen at City - and that includes John Docherty. Unfortunately for Todd, City only played well in patches. Now let's look to the future. Todd, shut up, once and for all, and concentrate on your current job. I notice you started well at Randers, and have taken them down the league at an alarming rate. Much like you did at City every season.
broncolayne, Bradford says...
10:40am Mon 19 May 08
peanut4 wrote:Maybe this is the reason Toddy keeps going on about saving City from relegation(Toddy' is published by Breedon Books. Colin Todd will be signing copies of his book at Waterstones in Hustlergate on Thursday, May 29 between midday and 1pm)just wondering what input Jim Brown has had with his quick retreat as City's vice chairman last week.
Why does Colin Todd keep thinking he has to say he could have saved us from relegation? Isn't this the third time he's done it? Maybe he could, maybe he couldn't. But who cares? He's gone, long gone, and thank the lord he's gone. For long periods, his was the most boring football team I've seen at City - and that includes John Docherty. Unfortunately for Todd, City only played well in patches. Now let's look to the future. Todd, shut up, once and for all, and concentrate on your current job. I notice you started well at Randers, and have taken them down the league at an alarming rate. Much like you did at City every season.
SHAUN, richmond says...
10:57am Mon 19 May 08
Oh!! for the days of Cherry, Kammy, and the Great...Paul Jewel!!!!!!
SHAUN, richmond says...
10:57am Mon 19 May 08
Oh!! for the days of Cherry, Kammy, and the Great...Paul Jewel!!!!!!
SHAUN, richmond says...
10:57am Mon 19 May 08
Oh!! for the days of Cherry, Kammy, and the Great...Paul Jewel!!!!!!
Bratfudlad, Eccleshill says...
11:31am Mon 19 May 08
Bratfudlad, Eccleshill says...
11:31am Mon 19 May 08
Bratfudlad, Eccleshill says...
11:31am Mon 19 May 08
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
11:48am Mon 19 May 08
Bratfudlad wrote:Not "hinsdight" from me, I knew it was the wrong decision at the time.
Hind sight is a wonderful thing.could have , might have but sadly didn't is nearer the truth it was a dire time in the clubs history 3 wins in 20 and crowd numbers dropping one of the few times as a supporter when I was glad to leave the match early.lets look forward and not back
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
11:48am Mon 19 May 08
Bratfudlad wrote:Not "hinsdight" from me, I knew it was the wrong decision at the time.
Hind sight is a wonderful thing.could have , might have but sadly didn't is nearer the truth it was a dire time in the clubs history 3 wins in 20 and crowd numbers dropping one of the few times as a supporter when I was glad to leave the match early.lets look forward and not back
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
11:48am Mon 19 May 08
Bratfudlad wrote:Not "hinsdight" from me, I knew it was the wrong decision at the time.
Hind sight is a wonderful thing.could have , might have but sadly didn't is nearer the truth it was a dire time in the clubs history 3 wins in 20 and crowd numbers dropping one of the few times as a supporter when I was glad to leave the match early.lets look forward and not back
boparob, Bradford says...
12:09pm Mon 19 May 08
Shame Loach won't be playing for us according to Radio Leeds.....
boparob, Bradford says...
12:09pm Mon 19 May 08
Shame Loach won't be playing for us according to Radio Leeds.....
boparob, Bradford says...
12:09pm Mon 19 May 08
Shame Loach won't be playing for us according to Radio Leeds.....
peter, skipton says...
12:58pm Mon 19 May 08
SHAUN wrote:You see this is where fans like this one continually re-write history. The above managers received criticism in the way Todd did. But suddenly this fan thinks the previous managers were wonderful. He was no doubt on PJ's case all through the 1999-2000 season. Moaning about everything he did. Did this fan back PJ during that season? No. He knows nothing about professional football when he insults Colin Todd in this way. Like many others, sadly.
He was even worse than the "Chuckle Bros" which takes some doing!! Oh!! for the days of Cherry, Kammy, and the Great...Paul Jewel!!!!!!
peter, skipton says...
12:58pm Mon 19 May 08
SHAUN wrote:You see this is where fans like this one continually re-write history. The above managers received criticism in the way Todd did. But suddenly this fan thinks the previous managers were wonderful. He was no doubt on PJ's case all through the 1999-2000 season. Moaning about everything he did. Did this fan back PJ during that season? No. He knows nothing about professional football when he insults Colin Todd in this way. Like many others, sadly.
He was even worse than the "Chuckle Bros" which takes some doing!! Oh!! for the days of Cherry, Kammy, and the Great...Paul Jewel!!!!!!
peter, skipton says...
12:58pm Mon 19 May 08
SHAUN wrote:You see this is where fans like this one continually re-write history. The above managers received criticism in the way Todd did. But suddenly this fan thinks the previous managers were wonderful. He was no doubt on PJ's case all through the 1999-2000 season. Moaning about everything he did. Did this fan back PJ during that season? No. He knows nothing about professional football when he insults Colin Todd in this way. Like many others, sadly.
He was even worse than the "Chuckle Bros" which takes some doing!! Oh!! for the days of Cherry, Kammy, and the Great...Paul Jewel!!!!!!
Chris, Bradford says...
1:18pm Mon 19 May 08
But hey who cares? The club is now back on the right tracks, no matter what ****$ say on here.
Chris, Bradford says...
1:18pm Mon 19 May 08
But hey who cares? The club is now back on the right tracks, no matter what ****$ say on here.
Chris, Bradford says...
1:18pm Mon 19 May 08
But hey who cares? The club is now back on the right tracks, no matter what ****$ say on here.
Say it as it is, A country going down the pan says...
1:20pm Mon 19 May 08
Say it as it is, A country going down the pan says...
1:20pm Mon 19 May 08
Say it as it is, A country going down the pan says...
1:20pm Mon 19 May 08
Bantam Forever, Bingley says...
1:24pm Mon 19 May 08
Bantam Forever, Bingley says...
1:24pm Mon 19 May 08
Bantam Forever, Bingley says...
1:24pm Mon 19 May 08
tyker, midland road says...
1:40pm Mon 19 May 08
this is very true indeed but having sold the players from under Todd it made it even more difficult for Todd to do the job he was doing: the selling of the players had to be done but I STILL think Todd would have engineered safety rather than putting a rookie in. I said it at the time on otehr forums so no hindsight claims please.
Todd had the experience and I am confident that he would have got us those few points we needed to be safe.
However it's history so let's move on: the club is in financial insecurity and will be for a few years yet and , in reality, needs significant cash injections to propel it forward. Where that cash comes from is immaterial but to get impetus SM needs to buy some decent young players not aged ones.
Put it this way a 30 plus year old player is like buying a 10 year old car:the outside may look good, the MOT is valid at the date of teh MOT, but you know deep down that you are going to buy into more problems than you would by buying a younger model.
tyker, midland road says...
1:40pm Mon 19 May 08
this is very true indeed but having sold the players from under Todd it made it even more difficult for Todd to do the job he was doing: the selling of the players had to be done but I STILL think Todd would have engineered safety rather than putting a rookie in. I said it at the time on otehr forums so no hindsight claims please.
Todd had the experience and I am confident that he would have got us those few points we needed to be safe.
However it's history so let's move on: the club is in financial insecurity and will be for a few years yet and , in reality, needs significant cash injections to propel it forward. Where that cash comes from is immaterial but to get impetus SM needs to buy some decent young players not aged ones.
Put it this way a 30 plus year old player is like buying a 10 year old car:the outside may look good, the MOT is valid at the date of teh MOT, but you know deep down that you are going to buy into more problems than you would by buying a younger model.
tyker, midland road says...
1:40pm Mon 19 May 08
this is very true indeed but having sold the players from under Todd it made it even more difficult for Todd to do the job he was doing: the selling of the players had to be done but I STILL think Todd would have engineered safety rather than putting a rookie in. I said it at the time on otehr forums so no hindsight claims please.
Todd had the experience and I am confident that he would have got us those few points we needed to be safe.
However it's history so let's move on: the club is in financial insecurity and will be for a few years yet and , in reality, needs significant cash injections to propel it forward. Where that cash comes from is immaterial but to get impetus SM needs to buy some decent young players not aged ones.
Put it this way a 30 plus year old player is like buying a 10 year old car:the outside may look good, the MOT is valid at the date of teh MOT, but you know deep down that you are going to buy into more problems than you would by buying a younger model.
The Russian, Brizzal says...
2:02pm Mon 19 May 08
The Russian, Brizzal says...
2:02pm Mon 19 May 08
The Russian, Brizzal says...
2:02pm Mon 19 May 08
Chris, Bradford says...
2:08pm Mon 19 May 08
Chris, Bradford says...
2:08pm Mon 19 May 08
paul_wakefield, Wakefield says...
7:25am Mon 19 May 08
In the two games prior to his sacking, we drew 2-2 at home to Forest in an entertaining and even game against top of the table. At Gillingham we lost 0-1 and we had 10 men of 70 mins or so after Youga was sent off. Hardly a disastrous result under the circumstances. We weren't actually playing bad football, we just weren't getting the rub of the green. Rhodes and his family saved the club and I'll be forever grateful, but sacking Todd was a rare mistake!