The man leading a steering committee which has pledged its support to the crisis-torn Bantams today admitted: "We're just a group of fans who were desperate to help out."

Former Halifax Town chairman Jim Brown is among a five-strong committee which arrived at Valley Parade yesterday morning for crunch talks with the club's administrators.

Mr Brown, along with accountant Alan Biggin, businessman Steve Longbottom, former City striker Bobby Ham and another member whose identity they would not reveal, have formed the committee.

Today, Mr Brown said the group had first offered their assistance to the administrators about four months ago.

It had been hoped they could help with the club's commercial activity and look to develop youth and training facilities.

But yesterday's dramatic deadline - when administrators Kroll threatened to shut the club down unless Gordon Gibb agreed to waive the £300,000 rent for Valley Parade - forced a rethink.

Mr Brown said the group did not have huge financial clout behind it, but said it had offered some help in the short term.

"We are not mega-wealthy - we are just fans who have made a few quid and who wanted to help out," he said.

"If things had gone wrong with the club and we looked back in six months' time and felt we could have done a bit more, then it would have been terrible. We felt we should do what we could now."

He added: "We haven't ruled out giving some financial assistance to the club. However, the financial gap is so large that our priority has to be trying to get the various parties involved together."

Mr Brown said he had been moved by the huge response of fans to the fundraising efforts which have been led by the Telegraph & Argus Save Our City Appeal.

He insisted everything had to be done to help the club.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is the club's lowest ebb in 100 years," he said.

"But there has been a fantastic effort by the supporters in recent weeks."

He said the administrators had made clear they had a series of short term objectives and the steering committee hoped to help them achieve those.

He hoped "some sort of compromise" could be reached with Mr Gibb.

Mr Brown said there was still a long way to go before the club could look forward to a secure future, but he said he was relieved it had managed to survive yesterday's deadline.

"Yesterday morning, I would have been glad for the club to have another 12 hours - that's how close it was."

He said the group would work with any potential investors to work out the best possible future for the club.

"It would be nice if someone came in and put in a lot of money but it is the size of the hole that is the problem. We are just helping the experts that are around the table."

Peter Truman, of Bradford City Supporters' Trust, said the formation of the steering committee gave more hope that the club could be saved.

"They are putting their efforts where their mouths are and for that they should be thanked," he said.

"Just the sight of their arrival at Valley Parade yesterday lifted spirits.

"They have been working through cash flow projections and looking at other angles and brought fresh eyes on to the situation.

"They are passionate about the club and that's good to hear. They also want the fans' involvement. It is a fact that at the end of the day the fans remain when other people come and go."

However he added: "They are not underestimating the severity of the problem.

"But at least they have some clout and they are trying to get the two main shareholders together and as a result it is looking more hopeful.

Employee and Telegraph & Argus columnist Mark Neale said: "These people are not only businessmen, they are high-profile Bradford City fans. They are hoping to be able to buy time so they can put something in long-term.

"But above all they will have Bradford City at the heart of all their dealings and that's what counts at the moment."

Fan Johnny Hayward, of Cullingworth, who wore a shirt bearing the slogan "Don't Let City Die" on the back, said he was disappointed but relieved.

"What we wanted today was the club's survival. That is the only thing that's important, we're not bothered how they do it, just that they do it."