Bradford City supporters are being given the chance to sample the new facilities in the £7.5 million Sunwin Stand extension before the end of the season.

The club are opening part of the upper tier of the stand, pictured behind stadium manager Allan Gilliver, from Saturday, April 21.

It will be available for use on that date when City play Derby County and also for the Middlesbrough match on Saturday, May 5, but not for the re-arranged match against Liverpool on Tuesday, May 1.

This section of the upper tier comprises 1,960 seats which will take the Valley Parade capacity to 22,517, the highest for 40 years.

A further 2,500 seats will be installed when the new stand is complete, bringing the capacity up to 25,000.

The details were confirmed by managing director Shaun Harvey, who also scotched rumours that the stand project, due to be completed at the end of February, had been delayed because of cash problems.

Confirming that the stand extension would be completed by the end of May and new hospitality facilities by the end of June, he said: "In response to malicious rumours that have been widely circulating, the club are delighted to confirm that at no time has the project been delayed because of funding.

"The appaling weather is the reason for the later completion."

He said that for the Derby and Middlesbrough matches the club were allowing any season ticket-holders to exchange their season tickets for seats in the upper tier without charge and were also allowing them the chance to bring guests with them.

Guests will be charged £10 for adults, less than half the normal adult price for Premiership matches at Valley Parade, while senior citizens and juniors will pay £5.

He said: "Season ticket-holders will be required to give up their seats at the ticket office and they will be re-allocated to other supporters.

"We hope that by making this offer season ticket-holders, and others, will be able to sample the new facilities in the upper tier of the stand."

The capacity at Valley Parade last season was 18,276, but it increased to 20,500 on Boxing Day when the first part of the stand extension, the corner stand adjoining the Carslberg Stand at the kop end of the ground, was opened for the Sunderland match.