GARY Bowyer is determined to set about changing City’s whole mindset as they stand on the brink of relegation.

Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Bristol Rovers, a sixth defeat on the bounce, virtually sealed their League One fate.

With the gap to safety now at nine points with only a maximum of 12 still available, the Bantams look doomed – and could be relegated after the Coventry game on Good Friday.

But Bowyer has been hugely encouraged by the “incredible” take-up of season-tickets as they face a return to the basement division after a six-year absence.

And he is focused on breaking the losing culture which he fears has set in after the club’s decline in the past year and a half.

Bowyer said: “Any habit is the same – smoking, drinking, gambling whatever.

“Unfortunately, that’s where we are at and what we’ve got.

“The whole club has got to change from top to bottom. The mentality must change.

“I’ve been in this situation before at Blackpool and it’s definitely achievable.

“But that will only happen by everybody pulling together, sticking together and working extremely hard.

“The supporters have done their bit already. To purchase so many season tickets so early, as they have done, is incredible.

“I knew I had to work hard in the summer but I’m going to have to work even harder now to repay the supporters’ unbelievable performance.

“So now it’s up to me and the staff to do our utmost to provide them with people they can see are going to have a real go.

“We need to have a very difficult, hard-to-beat mentality.”

Bowyer had set his side the improbable target of winning their final five outings to salvage their season.

Now he will draw on the backing of the fans to keep up his own spirits for the remainder of the campaign before he embarks on the rebuild for next time.

He added: “We’ve got to get through these next four games. The support we have is unbelievable.

“I thought they were magnificent for us at the game but not just that – with the season-ticket sales as well being so high.

“It definitely helps me, 100 per cent. It is inspiring to know there is support like that.

“My guarantee is that they can rest safe in the knowledge that we will bring in the right type of people to have a good go for them.”

Bowyer was encouraged by Sean Scannell’s first start since October. The winger played 73 minutes before coming off after Bristol Rovers scored their second goal.

“He was outstanding,” said the City boss. “To go as long as he did for us shows how eager he is to keep playing.

“Fair play to him to be out for five or six months and play as long as that after a brief show last week.

“But we’ve been undone again by our own individual mistakes. The three goals were all avoidable.

“We needed wins so it’s tough. But we’ve got to dust ourselves down and get ready for a big summer.”