One of Bradford's most respected and successful company bosses today called on the city's business community to throw its weight behind the Telegraph & Argus Save Our City Appeal.

Jack Tordoff, founder and chairman of the Bradford-based motor empire JCT600, handed over a cheque for £10,000 and urged business leaders: "Now follow my lead.

"It would be disastrous for the city and for the community to lose its only professional football team.

"I could not possibly just sit back and do nothing while there was a chance of that happening."

Mr Tordoff is already one of the biggest backers of Bradford City and is honorary life president of the club.

But he said he felt moved to make the donation after reading about the huge fund-raising efforts of supporters in the T&A.

Today, Mr Tordoff, whose firm has been major shirt sponsors of City since 1998, said he hoped that the gesture would spur other major companies in the district to back the fight to save the club.

News of his donation came as the administrators running City confirmed that the money raised so far by the T&A and Bradford City Supporters' Trust appeals would keep the club open until the end of this month.

The appeals have now raised more than £80,000 of the £100,000 target in just a week.

Mr Tordoff, who was chairman of City during the late 1980s, said: "On hearing about the T&A appeal and the commitment that has already been made by the T&A and Bradford Council, I felt I could not stand aside and do nothing at this time.

"JCT600 is already a big supporter of Bradford City and, in addition to the substantial money provided for the shirt sponsorship, we are pleased to donate a further £10,000 to the T&A appeal.

"We hope that our gesture will encourage other businesses in the area to come forward and help save the club."

The JCT600 empire has become one of Bradford's most successful businesses and last month announced record profits and turnover figures. It has shown its commitment to Bradford through the £4.5 million investment in a new BMW and Mini dealership in Sticker Lane to replace a showroom in Oak Lane, Manningham, that was burned to the ground during the riots of 2001.

Mr Tordoff, who now leaves the day-to-day running of the company to his son John, said he "could not comprehend life without Bradford City."

The administrators have applauded the efforts of fans in rallying round for the appeal which is providing the only source of funding to keep the club in existence.

They were today also due to meet an American-based potential investor at Valley Parade but insisted that achieving the £100,000 target as soon as possible was vital.

"Thanks to a mammoth effort by the Supporters Trust, the Telegraph & Argus newspaper, local businesses, staff and the public, the funding of the club has been secured until May 31," they said.

"It is important to stress that the funds raised have solved only the short-term funding issue and further significant funds for day to day operational costs are still required to ensure the club can trade during the closed season.

"Negotiations are continuing with the relevant parties in an attempt to ensure that the club can play at Valley Parade next season and these negotiations need to be concluded by June 1 in order that the club can submit its proposal to the Football League for fulfilling the fixtures of the 2004/2005 season."

Sir Ken Morrison yesterday ruled-out any hopes that his supermarket chain would help finance City.

The Morrisons' chairman was asked by one shareholder at the company's annual meeting in Bradford yesterday to help the club out.

Sir Ken said that the firm had stores in more than 400 towns and cities around the UK many of which had football clubs.

"Although I am sympathetic personally, it is not something that we would corporately want to contribute to," he said.

All monies raised by the T&A Save Our City and Bradford City Supporters' Trust appeals will go directly to the club's administrators to help them with the running of the club.