Mark Lawn hoping to keep Bradford City squad intact

7:00am Saturday 26th January 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Phil Parkinson's contract negotiations are ongoing Phil Parkinson's contract negotiations are ongoing

Mark Lawn believes that Phil Parkinson and his history-making squad should stick at Valley Parade however the season pans out.

Manager Parkinson is in demand after leading the first club from the fourth tier to a major Wembley cup final.

But Lawn is confident that he will commit his future to the Bantams – and reckons those players who are also out of contract in the summer should do the same.

City’s giant-killing antics have captured the attention of the nation and potentially put the team in the shop window. But the cash generated from the Capital One Cup exploits gives the club a stronger hand for trying to keep their prize assets.

Lawn said: “Phil’s been as good as his promise. He said he’d clear the deficit and he has done.

“This means that next year we can probably keep this squad together in the main and have another push at promotion if we don’t do it this time.

“I’m not unrealistic but they’ve got to Wembley and who says they might not be able to do something like that next year, whether it’s promotion, in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, whatever?

“You will always have opportunities when you’ve got a good side like that. I think there’s some great spirit in that dressing room and why would you want to break it up?

“I’d want to be part of what we’re building and that’s what Phil is trying to do now.

“We’ve got a tight bunch and I’d like to think they will give us another year. I’m not saying we’re not going to get promoted now, but financially it offers us the chance to keep this squad again.

“We should earn about £1million from the final after you take off VAT and will be paying out bonuses for the staff for £300,000. But the rest gives us that over-spend for next year.”

Negotiations are ongoing with Parkinson and his coaches and Lawn insists the club share their manager’s ambitions.

“Phil might go on to do other things in his career but he won’t rewrite history again like this,” he said.

“If he went to somewhere like, for example, Bolton Wanderers, he’s not going to make history there – unless he wins the Champions’ League final. That would be the only comparison.

“What we have done already will never be forgotten. I’m not being disrespectful to Rochdale but nobody entered it in 1962 because there was no Wembley appearance.

“It’s not like we are talking to football players. It’s a lot nicer because you are dealing with ‘grown-ups’ and they aren’t swayed as much by their agents.

“I think we’ll get there. Both parties want it to happen, so I’m sure it will. We’ve got to be fiscally tight. We’ve got to give him decent budgets and that has to be manageable.”

Lawn has again urged fans to play their part by snapping up the current season-ticket offer. Tickets for next term are currently on sale for £199 until the end of March.

He said: “If we can get back to the 13,000 season-ticket holders we had before, we can put more in Phil’s budget.

“That’s how the people of Bradford can say thank you to the club. Give us that money and we’ll put it back on the pitch next season. You want Phil to stay, come and show your support behind him.”

Comments(20)

Scholemoor Rovers says...
9:29am Sat 26 Jan 13

I hope we can keep hold of the majority of the team both on and off the field. With another blank weekend there should be enough time to get contracts sorted out sooner rather than later. Here's hoping for good news this week!

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Birky_Neil says...
9:47am Sat 26 Jan 13

I actually enjoyed reading that from Mark Lawn for once!

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gusbantam says...
10:19am Sat 26 Jan 13

If parky is on 52k per year and Andrew Davies £4k per week, I.e, 204k per year then it's crazy to be haggling over what no doubt will be the odd 20-25k or so. PP should be on £150k a year if you look at the player budget and the size of bcfc. We are not competing with the Burtons, Rochdales and Barnets. We are competing with Vale, Gills and Rotherham. And in terms of coaches and managers we are probably competing with top half League One teams. So if we wanna progress we have to invest-and that means having a long breath. PP has made a great start to the project, don't let him leave half way through cos his heads been turned. And you can't blame PP if he did consider a move, because 52k isn't enough to retire on and managers tend to get fired every 2-3years! Who's to say that Lawn wouldn't do just that if next season doesn't go as planned (in league one or two!)

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Onebrianmitchell says...
10:20am Sat 26 Jan 13

Two articles regarding Mark Lawn today. The other doesn't allow comment for obvious reasons, but is, for me, the one that should be read closely and remembered by many doubters.

A man who took his daughters to VP when they were three. A man who continued to take his daughters to the point they love the club so much that one had a panic attack on the final whistle. A man who was physically sick with nerves before the game. A man who couldn't eat for nerves.

Sounds like a big City fan doesn't he? And guess what? He's only our Chairman.

I know, he probably knows, he's got his faults. But he's City through and through. Like you, me, and the guy you didn't know who you hugged and celebrated with on Tuesday night!

He's not a soulless American, a trigger happy Russian, a non football loving Arab.

Let's be thankful for what we've got eh?

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Onebrianmitchell says...
10:22am Sat 26 Jan 13

Two articles regarding Mark Lawn today. The other doesn't allow comment for obvious reasons, but is, for me, the one that should be read closely and remembered by many doubters.

A man who took his daughters to VP when they were three. A man who continued to take his daughters to the point they love the club so much that one had a panic attack on the final whistle. A man who was physically sick with nerves before the game. A man who couldn't eat for nerves.

Sounds like a big City fan doesn't he? And guess what? He's only our Chairman.

I know, he probably knows, he's got his faults. But he's City through and through. Like you, me, and the guy you didn't know who you hugged and celebrated with on Tuesday night!

He's not a soulless American, a trigger happy Russian, a non football loving Arab.

Let's be thankful for what we've got eh?

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billy8antam says...
10:29am Sat 26 Jan 13

Onebrianmitchell wrote:
Two articles regarding Mark Lawn today. The other doesn't allow comment for obvious reasons, but is, for me, the one that should be read closely and remembered by many doubters.

A man who took his daughters to VP when they were three. A man who continued to take his daughters to the point they love the club so much that one had a panic attack on the final whistle. A man who was physically sick with nerves before the game. A man who couldn't eat for nerves.

Sounds like a big City fan doesn't he? And guess what? He's only our Chairman.

I know, he probably knows, he's got his faults. But he's City through and through. Like you, me, and the guy you didn't know who you hugged and celebrated with on Tuesday night!

He's not a soulless American, a trigger happy Russian, a non football loving Arab.

Let's be thankful for what we've got eh?
My thoughts exactly ,well said!!

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Freddy says...
10:50am Sat 26 Jan 13

*
I totally agree with Mark Lawns comments in this article.
*
If we are to progress, and eventually achieve further objectives. It is of paramount importance, to retain the Manager, and his selected staff.
*
WHEN City achieve promotion. It is of equal importance TO SUSTAIN PROMOTION. This will be achieved by 'Parky' and his retained players and excellent Coaching Staff.
*
I would like to purchase a Season Ticket for next Season. But I and my Son, can only attend a few matches.

Can any Supporter advise me as to the possibility of renewals, and the costs of our Flexi-Tickets, for next Season?. -Many Thanks.
*

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Victor Clayton says...
10:59am Sat 26 Jan 13

we need a couple of quality players in to get promoted. imo

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Meat Pie says...
11:05am Sat 26 Jan 13

Onebrianmitchell wrote:
Two articles regarding Mark Lawn today. The other doesn't allow comment for obvious reasons, but is, for me, the one that should be read closely and remembered by many doubters. A man who took his daughters to VP when they were three. A man who continued to take his daughters to the point they love the club so much that one had a panic attack on the final whistle. A man who was physically sick with nerves before the game. A man who couldn't eat for nerves. Sounds like a big City fan doesn't he? And guess what? He's only our Chairman. I know, he probably knows, he's got his faults. But he's City through and through. Like you, me, and the guy you didn't know who you hugged and celebrated with on Tuesday night! He's not a soulless American, a trigger happy Russian, a non football loving Arab. Let's be thankful for what we've got eh?
Very well said and very true.

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seasonticketholder says...
11:08am Sat 26 Jan 13

Freddy wrote:
*
I totally agree with Mark Lawns comments in this article.
*
If we are to progress, and eventually achieve further objectives. It is of paramount importance, to retain the Manager, and his selected staff.
*
WHEN City achieve promotion. It is of equal importance TO SUSTAIN PROMOTION. This will be achieved by 'Parky' and his retained players and excellent Coaching Staff.
*
I would like to purchase a Season Ticket for next Season. But I and my Son, can only attend a few matches.

Can any Supporter advise me as to the possibility of renewals, and the costs of our Flexi-Tickets, for next Season?. -Many Thanks.
*
I guess if your son is under 11, then the deal is I understand very good. If you personally attend 10+ matches a season, then by buying a season ticket you will start to save on the £20 gate entrance. You can choose your own regular seat and benefit from early deals on 'high profile' matches. I suppose if you only get to 8 games, you will lose a little cash. It is about standing up and being counted. As someone pointed out to me it is the equivalent cost of smoking 20 cigarettes a day for four weeks.

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macca1969 says...
11:08am Sat 26 Jan 13

Freddy wrote:
*
I totally agree with Mark Lawns comments in this article.
*
If we are to progress, and eventually achieve further objectives. It is of paramount importance, to retain the Manager, and his selected staff.
*
WHEN City achieve promotion. It is of equal importance TO SUSTAIN PROMOTION. This will be achieved by 'Parky' and his retained players and excellent Coaching Staff.
*
I would like to purchase a Season Ticket for next Season. But I and my Son, can only attend a few matches.

Can any Supporter advise me as to the possibility of renewals, and the costs of our Flexi-Tickets, for next Season?. -Many Thanks.
*
Season tickets are 199. As if now the club unfortunately have no plans to do a flexi card. Hope this helps

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LaCe78 says...
11:58am Sat 26 Jan 13

I agree that the free week should be spent wisely getting some of the contract issues sorted, nobody wants this to drag on surely, or any uncertainty hanging over their heads for the run in!

As for a sustained promotion push, I still think we are one natural goal scorer short! As Swindon did with Benson last year, he helped them over the finishing line even playing the majority of his game time from the bench! If Wells or Hanson pick up injuries then we'll be light up front! I like Connell, I think he can do a job but he's not poacher! Not convinced about Gray.

One more goal machine please Mr Lawn! Let's not wait until next year!

I want to be going to watch us smash Town next season in the league!

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RuggerTyke says...
1:25pm Sat 26 Jan 13

If after this remarkable cup run we achieve promotion this year, this club will well and truly be on the rise!

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seasonticketholder says...
2:28pm Sat 26 Jan 13

RuggerTyke wrote:
If after this remarkable cup run we achieve promotion this year, this club will well and truly be on the rise!
You could directly be a part of it by buying a season ticket.

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balbrigganfc says...
3:37pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Predicting the majority of our squad will stay, but some players will leave, and new players will come in.

Parky will be at VP next season. Nobody makes predictions like me, Nobody.

Come on you Bantams, CTID

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Craig says...
12:08am Sun 27 Jan 13

This is going to be unpopular and I understand why because I'm not sure about the proposal myself but, what about offering a limited number of 'rest of the season' tickets at say £150 but that carry the incentive of the same chance of a wembley ticket that us current season ticket holders are hoping to enjoy?

*
I know many of us are thinking 'protectionism' around getting to Wembley but 1500 tickets at that price is about a quarter of a million quid in the coffers before we even get to next year and, given the amount of people who've already asked me to get them a ticket for Wembley - I reckon they might just sell and boost us even before we think about next year's sales.

*
Let's be honest, the cup final ticket prices are going to sort the men from the boys, but at the same time, lets cash in on the current optimism rather than waiting till the end of the season when, god forbid, we could miss out on going up and it's all doom and gloom again!!

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Craig says...
12:20am Sun 27 Jan 13

In fact, as above but £120, just checked and we've only 8 home games left - still 8 games for the price of 6 for those fans with no season ticket - chance of a Wembley ticket and £150,000 grandish in the bank!

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silverbantam says...
7:52am Sun 27 Jan 13

The club are letting season ticket and 50/50 holders buy 3 Wembley tickets each. Not reported on T&A yet.

City have 8417 season ticket holders which includes Flexi-card holders so assuming all 8417 buy 3 each (very unlikely) that equals 25,251 leaving a minimum of 6,601 for general sale (21% of the allocation) which is plenty!

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Freddy says...
8:54am Sun 27 Jan 13

*
Many thanks to"SeasonTicketHolde
r" and "Macca1969" for your info on next season's tickets. I hope they introduce another Flexi-Ticket Offer for 2013-14.
*
Both me and my Son have to travel from 'Darn-Sarth' for most Home matches. We get to some Away's in The 'Sarth' too.
*
I understand the Squad went to TENERIFE today, for a well deserved mid season break, in the Sun. I hope they don't drink too much alcohol!!!!.
But train on the sands--which will strengthen all the other parts, that the San Miguel 's can not reach !!!!.
*
I shall be part of Football History--Bradford City's History-- and delight in being there, at The New Wembley Stadium. I have already been around Wembley, on Their Tours. The Dressing rooms are excellent---with an annex door through to a Five a Side Court for players to warm up in!!!.
*
I do hope The Squad can find the time to go on the Wembley Tours. I am convinced it will help them to familiarise, and settle any overwhelming feelings,--that may occur-- on the Final Day.
*

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billybobbull says...
12:40pm Sun 27 Jan 13

This is all great news for city and the City of Bradford. I am so happy for all involved in the club. I have my tickets in the Club Wembley seats and will be cheering on the City with all my Bradford heart.

Hopefully city will get promotion and take this season to the next level, next time around.

Here's hoping the whole city get behind the Bantams and the Bulls in the coming months and years and make this great city PROUD again.
I am proud to be a Bradfordian. LABOR OMNIA VINCIT

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