CITY are determined not to lean too heavily on Stefan Rupp in the financial fight caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Many lower-division clubs are battling to survive because of the growing cost of football being shut down.

The Bantams are no different in feeling the pinch after deciding to take season tickets off sale last week.

Owner Rupp issued a club statement to assure fans that he was committed to “getting City through this challenging period and out the other side in the best way possible”.

But the club do not want to be over-reliant on the wealthy German, who has already loaned them £1.76 million in four years.

“It’s inconceivable that there could be a period without investment and support from the owner of the business,” said director of communications Ryan Sparks.

“But in the same breath we’re not going to sit on our laurels. That’s not our first port of call.

“What we are doing at the moment is trying to find ways to mitigate that as much as possible.

“You’ve seen how many clubs now have gone into this worldwide pandemic crisis and they are in grave trouble straight away. They have already turned to their owner.

“The owners are obviously under pressure because their own businesses have been impacted massively.

“I imagine that’s no different for our owner but it’s not something we’ve ever tried to do. It’s a last resort for us.”

City became one of the first clubs to withdraw season-ticket sales as the uncertainty of when football can return rumbles on.

Sparks felt it was their “moral” obligation with the growing likelihood that fans will not be allowed back into games this year. They are exploring the possibility of a combined season-ticket to include watching the expected behind-closed-doors fixtures via iFollow.

He added: “Some clubs have postponed deadlines and moved renewal dates. But we’ve said that we are uncomfortable with trying to sell a product that frankly doesn’t exist.

“We’re currently looking to build a potential package which may include iFollow. It could be something nobody has ever seen before like a split season-ticket.

“These discussions are underway between us and the EFL and it could take a few weeks to sort out.

“This season is really in the hands of the Premier League and the Championship.

“At some point we’ve got to try and plot a future. We’ve still got a club to run.

“You want the business to be viable and Bradford City has prided itself, certainly for many years, on not using a benefactor to prop it up.

“That’s why the losses that occurred from the relegation season, that we’re still recovering from, didn’t only hurt us but were deeply embarrassing.

“You do hear horror stories elsewhere and clubs that are £20 million or £30 million into their five or 10-year projects and they are still sat in League Two. We’re not in that area.

“We’ve got an owner who’s engaging the business and is committed to doing what he is.

“He obviously respects everyone in the UK fighting the fight on his behalf and knows we are doing all we can to bring money to the club.”