STEFAN Rupp is set to take a more hands-on role at City as Edin Rahic’s exit appears to move ever closer.

Rupp has been happy to remain in the background since the German duo took charge of the club in May 2016.

But with chairman Rahic seemingly out of the picture, it is understood that could be about to change.

Rupp, the major shareholder with a 78 per cent holding in the Bantams from their £5 million deal, is expected to fly to England early next week for urgent talks on the club’s situation.

Rahic’s future may well have been decided even before then.

The writing appears to have been on the wall for him since the return of former chairman Julian Rhodes on a consultancy basis at the start of the month.

Rhodes is back working at the club on a day-to-day basis and is believed to be behind all the decision-making.

Rupp has not been seen at Valley Parade since the end of last season when he attended the final home game against Walsall before speaking at the club’s awards night.

At that event, he stressed that the owners were in it for the long term and not looking to sell the club.

Now Rupp is likely to go it alone with the support of Rhodes.

Rupp, a hugely successful businessman in Germany, has already promised that funds will be made available for David Hopkin in the January transfer window.

When asked after City’s 4-0 defeat at Luton, Hopkin claimed he was unaware of the suggestion that Rahic is considering his position.

But Rupp has made it clear that he is prepared to continue to offer financial backing.

In a public statement last month, he emphasised that Hopkin was the man “to take the club forward in the long term”.

Rupp said: “If our position does not improve then David will be backed in January and there will be money to spend. He will get complete support in terms of the players he wishes to bring to the club.”

The joint-owner’s standing among supporters has inevitably suffered with the club’s decline since losing the play-off final two seasons ago.

But he has not come under anywhere near the same amount of pressure as Rahic, who has been the subject of increasing criticism ever since Stuart McCall was sacked in February and is widely viewed as a divisive presence.

There were even plans to fly a plane carrying a protest banner over a home game as anger grew, although they have been shelved.

The suggestion that Rupp is now prepared to get more involved will be seen as good news at a time when City are battling for their League One lives. Tuesday's loss leaves them seven points from safety.

They will need his support to get back on an even keel and have a fighting chance of beating the drop.

Meanwhile, Rahic is thought to be back in Germany although the rest of his family remain in their West Yorkshire home. His wife Silke is still working in the accounts department at the club.