Film on Bradford City owners gets to heart of the matter

"There are many highs and lows. It's not all roses but the decision was 100 per cent the right one."

Edin Rahic summing up why he took the plunge with Bradford City – otherwise known as an "insanely big risk" by business partner Stefan Rupp.

The club's first year of German ownership has been laid bare for all to see in the candid, behind-the-scenes film unveiled to the public this week.

The long-awaited 'Matter of Heart' documentary does not disappoint.

At times it may feel like a 'This is your life' for Edin and Stefan. But remember this is primarily a German film, made by a German production company focusing on two Germans for a German audience.

A graphic scene showing the fire was taken out from Tuesday's showing at the club's advice. The clip may well be included for the second screening in Munich on Thursday.

But otherwise it was all there for the invited audience at the Pictureville Cinema at Bradford's Science and Media Museum, who sat transfixed through its debut.

From Rahic laying out his route map of the "northern belt" to identify a suitable club with large support, local derbies and access to good academies, to Rupp joking that he will only walk away when City are established in the Champions' League.

Rupp had been initially coerced by a mutual bank consultant. But what started as a "cool" investment has transformed into a passion to compare with his partner.

"Stefan has poured his heart and soul into it," says Rahic. "I'm proud to have got him to the point where he is almost like me.

"If he were to live here in England, he would sit next to me at my desk and we would storm the league."

But Matter of Heart is not just about snappy soundbites and sympathetically shot views of the area, although Bradford itself scrubs up well under the slick eye of film maker Franz Stepan.

There is plenty of meat for the fans as they get a genuine glimpse of what goes on behind Valley Parade's closed doors.

"European strategy and British mentality, slowly but surely it's coming together," says Greg Abbott, one of the stars of the show.

I defy anyone not to find a bit of dust in their eye when he is interviewed outside Wembley about what promotion would mean.

The narrative lacks a happy ending, of course, because of that Millwall result. For the squad, who were at Tuesday's show, it was another painful reminder of just how close they had come.

But there are fascinating insights into the changing dynamic within the club and the layers of discussion that take place. Rahic is hands on in everything.

"I don't think I've ever been asked as many questions as I have with Edin," Abbott admits at one point.

"We do things differently," says Rahic. "If you give everything for the club, you will always have my support.

"But if you start doing your own thing ... then we have a problem."

The relationship between the owners and Stuart McCall makes the most fascinating watch. It will be an eye-opener for many.

Used to being left to his own devices previously, the City boss has had to adapt to a very different way of working.

Rupp said: "In Germany, you have the head coach, sporting director and chief executive. It's the division of power we want to instil here.

"In England, the manager is pretty much omnipotent. That's what we don't want.

"Sometimes you have to kick people up the bum a bit. If you want to manage our team, you have to come to terms with that."

The machinations of the January transfer window are another talking point, particuarly James Hanson's exit and the decision to pull him out of a game just before his move.

"If an employee doesn't want to be here, then go," Rahic tells McCall and Abbott. Although there is no mention of the fact that Hanson did not have any deal on the table to stay at City.

"Project Bradford" is how Rupp described their mission but he hopes the fans now know it is far more than just business: "They see us as highly effective operators, not chancers who just bought a club to see what it's like to own one."