JAMES Mason today insisted suggestions City have reneged on a discount ticket deal with Doncaster as “absolute nonsense”.

The Bantams issued a statement last night to clarify their position over claims that they were not honouring an agreement to charge the same £15 price for away fans at Valley Parade on Saturday that Rovers had done earlier in the season.

Chief operating officer Mason again made it clear that they told Doncaster in September, a month before the first game, that they would not be reducing prices.

Mason said: “It would have gone against the ethos of our cheap season-ticket policy.

“We couldn’t have done it just for away fans, or risked our home walk-up support going in that end. And we can’t do local promotions for all the local clubs when we are trying to sell cheap season-tickets.

“We welcomed Doncaster’s idea of being creative to get the fans in but never agreed to reciprocate on the £15. We did suggest other ideas such as free coach transport for Rovers fans at the outset.

“It's my job to defend the club when we feel misrepresented and I hope our fans can see that.

“We are fully supportive of any initiative to increase home and away crowds. But having discussed the idea of a reciprocal deal at board level at the time, we felt it wasn’t something we could participate in and we made that clear to Doncaster.

“We communicated that verbally and in writing through email. Doncaster understood that but said they still wanted to do the £15 ticket deal for their home game to boost the attendance.

“This was clearly misunderstood along the way which is shame as it's led to this situation.

“We did say that we would look at something nearer the time to incentivise people, maybe with the travel but not the ticket prices.

“So to counter any suggestions that the coach travel is being used as a guilty plea; far from it. We suggested that from the first discussion.

“What we must make clear to Doncaster and Bradford City fans is that there was no ulterior motive here. There was no suggestion of profiteering – that’s not what we do.

“I’m very proud to work for and be a supporter of a club that have been a trailblazer for making football affordable and accessible for all. When we make an agreement we do not go back on it.

“I must defend our name from being sullied by accusations that we are trying to make a quick buck.

“We have a huge amount of respect for Doncaster Rovers but felt we needed to right a few wrongs being inferred on social media.”