Former Leeds United chairman Bill Fotherby was today linked with a takeover bid for crisis-torn Bradford City.

Mr Fotherby, who is currently owner of Unibond League outfit Harrogate Town, is believed to be one of nine parties to have registered an interest in the club.

When contacted by the Telegraph & Argus today, Mr Fortherby, 71, said he would "rather not comment at the moment" about the speculation.

But Mr Fotherby, who was boss at Leeds when the club won its last honour - the League championship in 1992, has been linked with a move to City in the past.

He was offered a place on the 'secondary board' at Valley Parade during Bob Martin's reign as chairman - which ironically ended in City's last major financial crisis in 1983.

A flamboyant former salesman, Mr Fotherby became a director of Leeds United in 1986, and managing director in 1988.

He was at the forefront of Leeds' transformation in the early nineties when, for a time, it became the biggest spending club in British football.

Although he has spent recent years at Harrogate Town, Mr Fotherby could be tempted by a move back to the big time with City - possibly as part of a consortium.

Mike Moore, partner of Kroll Buchler Phillips and joint administrator of Bradford City, said nine serious inquiries about the club have been received to date.

Most came as a result of an advert which appeared in the Financial Times newspaper on Tuesday.

The identities of the potential bidders remains secret, although honorary life president Jack Tordoff, owner of City's main sponsors JCT600, has said he is not interested.

The club's current chairman Geoffrey Richmond remains one of the favourites to win back control, despite yesterday's dramatic cost-cutting measures.

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