Bradford City chairman Geoff-rey Richmond has hit back at critics who have accused him of taking 'the easy option' in app-ointing Paul Jewell as manager this week.

The 33-year-old Jewell, who is hoping to name his number two early next week, is effectively on trial until the end of the season when his performance will be assessed by the City board.

However, Richmond has received calls and letters this week from supporters disagreeing with the appointment.

He said: "Whether people agree or disagree with the appointment, I hope they will give the club a chance but I do want to set the record straight.

"The easy option, as some have called it, would have been to make an appointment of an established manager or a high profile one.

"I had a man who said he had been a supporter for 25 years and was returning his season ticket.

"As a supporter of 25 years standing, it might have been much more acceptable to come and see me to talk about it for half an hour.

"It would also have been an easy option not to sack Chris Kamara. Although it is very early days, we have scored eight goals in four games since then compared to 14 in the previous 21."

Some supporters have also criticised City's failure to sign John O'Kane from Manchester United despite a reasonably successful loan spell with the club in November.

The utility player this week completed a move to Premiership strugglers Everton in a deal which could eventually rise to £400,000.

Richmond went on record in the City match programme last month saying that he had "vetoed" the proposed transfer.

However he said today: "At the end of his month's loan with us Chris Kamara asked for it to be extended but Alex Ferguson would not let that happen.

"And prior to taking John O'Kane to the club, Chris had asked for an indication as to how much he would cost. Ferguson said it would be about £150,000.

"At the end of the month it had risen to £300,000, plus bits and pieces based on appearances which would have taken it up to nearly half a million. Chris wanted to look at him for another month but it was turned down. I did block the deal at that price."

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