City are set to break even for the first time since they were a top-flight club.

But Julian Rhodes today warned fans: "We can't afford to get carried away."

The club were last in profit in 2000 after beating the drop from the Premier League.

And Rhodes hailed the contribution of Bradford's fans for snapping up the cheap season-ticket deal as a key factor in the current financial recovery.

City's debts have been consistently trimmed since they came out of administration for a second time in 2004. Last year's £500,000 loss up to the end of June was over £1million down on the previous 12 months.

To level out again is a milestone, though Rhodes insists there is plenty of hard work still to be done.

"Breaking even was the objective of the grand plan and we appear to have financially bottomed out, subject to everyone putting the work in," said the joint-chairman.

"People here have got their eye on the ball and we can't afford otherwise. It's not easy to maintain our position when you have the huge outgoings (£1.2million stadium overheads) that we have every year.

"You've got to keep on top of it. If something falls out, like one tenant goes, then they have to be replaced very quickly.

"But we are utilising the facilities as much as possible, which was not the case before when we spent that many years just trying to survive.

"We're now trying to get people in from Monday through to Sunday, not just for 23 games a season, but that takes time to get going.

"Cash is still tight and March is a very difficult month. It's a rent quarter and, with the season-ticket deadline not until June, it's always the worst time.

"But our sponsors have always been superb in their support by paying money early to help us through. Only last week, Bradford & Bingley agreed to pay next season's sponsorship."

City's gates have dwarfed other clubs in the bottom division - and all except Leeds and Nottingham Forest in League One. It has justified Rhodes' gamble to slash season-ticket prices, an offer that is currently being repeated for next term.

"Yes, the whole season-ticket scheme and the way it was backed has been instrumental," said Rhodes.

"The Football League have confirmed we will have taken more money through the turnstiles and ticket sales than any other League Two club.

"And by the end of the season, we will have taken more in League Two than we did last season in League One.

"The whole idea of the scheme was to allow people to come at accessible prices while also maintaining our income levels - but we've actually boosted those, which is fantastic.

"We were one of the strongest financially in League Two this year with the fourth-largest budget. If we can do that next time with Stuart McCall's experience having had a season at this level, he's going to be much better equipped. The whole focus now has to be getting it right on the pitch.

"Hopefully people will stay with us. It's all dependent on buying the season tickets and then being in a position where it can snowball.

"Unfortunately, as we get the finances sorted, we've been going the wrong way on the pitch.

"I'm convinced that if we go back to League One, we will be one of the strongest there and certainly have one of the biggest fan-bases. We are a big club. It's up to us now to prove that."

City's booming crowds have caused a stir nationally. A League One club is set to follow suit with a similar season-ticket scheme after seeing it take off at Valley Parade.

But Rhodes admits the dream of City buying back their home from former chairman Gordon Gibb's family pension fund remains just that for now.

He said: "I've left it to Mark (Lawn). I don't think it's any great secret that if I was to attempt to open up any dialogue it might not happen.

"But from what I understand, I think Mark's getting a similar reaction; which is no reaction.

"You have to consider, though, how much it would cost to buy back. You'd have to borrow that money, which you cannot do free of charge. So that outlay would have to be compared to the rent we're paying.

"It's nice in the long term to think we could buy the stadium back but, as it stands at present, I don't think it's feasible."

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