City have passed the 12,000 season-ticket mark - a total Julian Rhodes admits is "beyond his wildest expectations".

The official figure as the deadline for the cheap deal passed stood at 12,019 and the joint-chairman is delighted at the response.

He said: "I am over the moon. It couldn't have gone any better.

"The rough breakdown of the total stands at around 9,000 adults, including 25-year season ticket-holders, 2,000 under-11s and 1,000 under-16s."

Rhodes added: "I was always hopeful we might get 10,000 adults but perhaps that was setting the target a bit too high.

"But when the tickets went on sale and the good feeling which was around the club following the return of Stuart McCall, I did think we might get over the 10,000 mark - but to get above 12,000 is beyond my wildest expectations.

"I'd like to say a big thank you' to everyone who has bought a ticket and also to the Telegraph & Argus, who have backed us from the start. Without the T&A, we wouldn't have made the figure we have.

"I just hope we can reward everyone by being entertaining and successful on the field.

"We are all looking forward to the first game now and hopefully three points against Macclesfield."

The Bantams - in conjunction with the T&A - launched the cheapest season-ticket proposal in the Football League back in February.

Rhodes wanted 10,000 adults to sign up to the scheme for it to go ahead. With City heading for League Two, around 7,000 had signed up by the end of April but Rhodes decided that was enough to proceed with the plan.

Tickets went on sale at the end of May priced at £138 for adults - which worked out at just £6 a game - with youngsters aged 11 to 15 costing £69 and under-11s getting in free.

The appointment of club legend Stuart McCall as manager, coupled with new investment from the now joint-chairman Mark Lawn, has sparked a feel-good factor at Valley Parade. That has been crucial as fans snapped up the cheap tickets in their droves before the end of July when prices doubled.

Rhodes confirmed that the club were not planning on opening the top tier of the Sunwin Stand. With the odd exception, it has been shut to the public since they dropped into League One and only open to fans with upgrades to supporters' suites.

He said: "We have decided to open more areas of the Midland Road stand. We want to keep people down near the pitch to generate a better atmosphere, which is what the season-ticket deal is all about."