Bradford City's administrators today sacked 16 players - leaving boss Nicky Law with only five in his senior squad.

The axe fell as representatives from Kroll Buchler Phillips prepared to meet the Football League for crisis talks.

The only players to survive the dressing-room cull are believed to be Mark Bower, Lewis Emanuel, Andy Lee and recent signings Tom Kearney and Michael Standing.

Youth-team boss Steve Smith, who was caretaker-boss for two games before Law came in, has also gone as well as kit man Alan Jackson and fitness coach Kevin Hornsby. But Law and his assistant Ian Banks have been told their jobs are safe.

Having made cut-backs among office and shop staff, the administrators yesterday turned their efforts to the playing side.

Top-earners Benito Carbone and Ashley Ward were expected to go but fans will be shocked to see the likes of new captain David Wetherall and Andy Myers also out.

News of the savage cuts will cause uproar from the Professional Footballers' Association, who earlier this week accused the administrators of creating a state of "anarchy". Most of the players whose contracts have been terminated are away on holiday.

League officials are also concerned and the administrators could face a grilling at their meeting.

League spokesman Ian Christon said: "Breaking contracts is a thorny issue because Carlton and Granada did it to us with ITV Digital. Tearing up contracts is not a route we want to encourage teams to follow.

"It would create a precedent. What's then to stop a player giving one month's notice to a club and then heading off?

"A lot of clubs are watching the situation at Bradford and we want to make sure that our rules and regulations are adhered to. There might be certain unscrupulous people who may want to use administration just as a means to off-load players.

"Administration is a legal detail to allow clubs to sort themselves out financially."

Joint-administrator Mike Moore warned a week ago: "There is limited money available and unfortunately, it will therefore be necessary to terminate the contracts of many players."

City have blamed the dual effect of the ITV Digital cash shortage and the collapse of £2m-a-year Carbone's move to Middlesbrough for forcing them to take such drastic measures. Scottish club Motherwell recently did the same thing and also got rid of 19 contracted players from the wage bill.

Supporters' club chairman Mark Neale said: "It's obviously come as a big shock. I feel for all the players but particularly people like Wayne Jacobs who has been a tremendous servant to the club.

"As far as the fans are concerned, it's often when Bradford City have been at the lowest ebb such as the previous financial crisis and the fire that we've come out stronger. The only way is up."