Bradford City's survival hopes have been boosted by news that the Inland Revenue has decided not to appeal against a rescue package to bring the club out of administration.

Julian Rhodes - who is leading the rescue bid - has now been told that the Revenue has not lodged an appeal against the move.

Today he said the news was a major boost to efforts to bring City out of administration - even though Gordon Gibb's Flamingo Land Pension Fund, which owns Valley Parade, has already lodged an objection. The case is due to be heard at a High Court hearing next Wednesday.

It had been feared the Revenue would follow suit as it has recently done in the cases of both Wimbledon (now MK Dons) and Exeter City football clubs, potentially plunging the rescue bid into crisis.

But administrators Kroll confirmed that only one objection had been lodged, indicating the Revenue was not appealing.

The move suggests it had no objection to the legality of the offer put to creditors - known as a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) - which won the support of the required majority in August.

Mr Rhodes held lengthy talks with Revenue bosses in a bid to appease them after they voted against the CVA in the initial vote. "This is another obstacle out of the way," said Mr Rhodes. "It means that coming out of administration is getting even nearer. Once that is achieved, all the efforts I have put into keeping the club going will be available to help build it back up again."

Mr Rhodes, who now hopes the club could be out of administration by the end of October, also paid tribute to the efforts of the City Steering Committee - fronted by Jim Brown - which has been helping look after the day-to-day running of the club.

"I asked them to get involved and I have been very impressed by the way they have kept the club going while I have been trying to get the rescue package sorted," he said.

Despite the appeal by the Flamingo Land Pension Fund, club staff were informed on Tuesday they would receive 100 per cent of their wages for September.