Special City spirit needs to be revived says Ces

Record-breaker Podd made 502 league appearances for City in the 1970s and early eighties and was one of the first black players to establish himself in English football. Speaking from the Caribbean island of St Vincent, Podd said he still had a close affection for the Bantams and was desperate to see the club climb the league table once again.

And he said the key was to rediscover the 'community spirit' that marked the club out from any other during his days at Valley Parade.

"I think that spirit is very important," he said. "People who have the club at heart need to be given a voice in what happens there - it is very important that the fans rally round."

Podd said the bond between the fans and players at City had been shown during the dark days of the 1983 financial crisis and at the time of the Valley Parade fire in 1985. And he said many former players decided to stay in the district after leaving the club.

"The reason they stayed was because they felt a part of it," he said. "It was a real community club. I was one of the first black players and I never felt anything but very welcome. During the financial problems when everyone rallied round and at the time of the fire, there was a bond that hadn't been seen in football before."

Podd, who is currently working for a football agency as well as coaching in St Vincent, admitted that he would have liked to take up a coaching role with City after retiring from the game.

While City were in the Premiership he invited the team to the neighbouring Caribbean island of St Kitts, where he was born, for a special tournament.

And Podd said he was always keen to help out the club in whatever way he could to help City rediscover happier times.

"The club really took off after what happened in the eighties and everyone was rallying round for the common cause," he said. "It is important the fans really get behind the manager and the team."