Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond has outlined his determination to cut Bradford City's annual wage bill by £500,000.

And he revealed that the aim is not just to save money, but to provide scope for more new signings.

Richmond says that City have sent out circulars to other Football League clubs to say that following recent signings the club have strikers available on loan or for sale, although no names have been mentioned. Each enquiry will be treated on its merits.

"Clearly," he said, "we have players who are surplus to requirements.

"No club needs nine strikers and no club can keep nine strikers happy.

"I am looking for a reduction in our annual wage bill of £500,000 because we anticipate new players coming in who might well cost us £200,000 a year.

"Our wage bill is too high at the moment, but that is because the squad is top heavy with too many strikers.

"That is there for all to see, but what I don't want to preach is that there is any sort of financial problem at the club.

"It is more that we are following a policy of good housekeeping so that we are in a position to mount a perfectly genuine and serious bid to get into the play-offs or close to them.

"That would take into account that it is our intention in the foreseeable future to spend another £1 million in the transfer market to give the squad a better balance whereas we have too many strikers at the moment."

Richmond recalled that deals to take striker Robert Steiner to Utrecht in the summer and to Norwegian club Stabaek a fortnight ago had both fallen through.

Steiner had also refused to go to Preston on loan while Preston also wanted to take another striker John McGinlay on loan.

However when manager David Moyes came to Valley Parade to watch him in a reserve match against Newcastle last week, the player pulled a thigh muscle and the deal was put on hold.

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