JULIAN Rhodes' role in steering City through some of their toughest times should never be forgotten as the club prepare to welcome their new owners today.

Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp will be officially unveiled as the successors to Rhodes and Mark Lawn at the Valley Parade helm.

But David Wetherall insists that Rhodes will always have his place in fans' affections for helping the Bantams survive the financial turmoil of two administrations.

The former skipper is also delighted that Rhodes will sign off a 19-year boardroom association with the club in their highest position in over a decade.

Rhodes has been involved with City since 1997, when he and his father David first came on board with financial backing for chairman Geoffrey Richmond.

Wetherall said: "It probably feels a lot longer than that – it's been some journey Julian and his family have taken with the football club.

"When I look back to the post-Premier League days and the financial mess the club were in, I'm sure a lot of people in Julian's position then wouldn't have seen the job through.

"I was speaking to Julian quite a bit at that point in my role with the club and the PFA. It was obviously extremely stressful for everybody concerned.

"It must have been precarious for him and his family but his feelings for the club made him stay engaged. Julian played an absolutely massive role in keeping the club going. That should never be forgotten.

"So it's fantastic to see that now he is stepping away, it's been after a period of building and going in the right direction. I'm sure that will mean a lot with the success of recent seasons."

Wetherall believes the current atmosphere at home games is down to the cut-price season-ticket campaign which Rhodes introduced in 2007 when Lawn and Stuart McCall were brought in.

City's attendances have remained high ever since – and the 18,090 average for the season just gone was the second best in League One behind Sheffield United. The two departing chairmen's last act was to freeze low prices for next term.

Wetherall said: "Julian has been instrumental in driving season-ticket deals and re-engaging with the community at large. The atmosphere around the place is reciprocal with the results on the pitch.

"It's fantastic to see so many supporters at Valley Parade when I go to games now, especially young fans. That bodes well for the future of the club.

"I'm sure he is looking forward to watching games and seeing the club progress in a more relaxed fashion.

"Julian's passion for the club won't have diminished and now he can enjoy it as a fan. He'll have great memories to look back on and for supporters to remember his time."

Wetherall, who was connected with City for 12 years as a player, caretaker manager and coach, left Valley Parade in 2011 to become the Football League's head of youth development.

But he remains close to his old club and admits it will be strange to no longer see Rhodes and Lawn in charge.

Wetherall said: "Like a lot of people, I've got mixed feelings. It's sad in a lot of ways that two die-hard Bradford fans aren't going to be in charge of the football club any more.

"It's the end of an era after a positive last few years – but it's great to see the club going in the right direction.

"We don't know much about the new owners but I'm sure Julian and Mark have been very conscientious in the discussions.

"They have always said they are only custodians and would step aside for the good of the club for people who could offer more investment."