City insist they were right to back the controversial new scheme for the transfer of young players.

The Elite Player Performance Plan has been slammed in some quarters as the “death of the Football League”.

A protest group wants fans to show their disapproval by turning up five minutes late for today’s games.

Opponents to the plan claim that it will make it even easier for Premier League clubs to poach the best youngsters at a fraction of the price.

The Bantams recently sold 15-year-old George Green to Everton in a deal that will net them up to £2m. They have also made money from top-flight sides for the likes of Fabian Delph, Tom Cleverley and Andre Wisdom.

While Leeds and Huddersfield voted against the EPPP, City were among the majority in favour. Head of player development Archie Christie admitted they had thought long and hard about it.

He said: “Everybody at the club had their say, the chairmen and directors, the manager, the youth department. We weighed up the pros and cons and the decision was not taken lightly.

“We spoke to a number of well-informed people in the football industry and listened to various advice and discussions. We spent a number of hours going over and over all the points in the proposal.

“But we came to the decision that it was a fair model.

“In the old system, bigger clubs could take nine or ten-year-olds and we had no recourse. Now we’ve got fixed terms in place right through to sell-on clauses.

“I can’t see how we are possibly losing money here.”

Under the plan, clubs get £3,000 for every year they developed a player between nine and 11 and up to £40,000 per year from 12 to 16. They can also receive further cash depending on the youngster’s progress.

Christie explained that the Green scenario would not have changed under the different rules.

“That doesn’t come into it. Once players get to 14, we still retain all the ownership and all the power. If they don’t agree to our price, then they have to wait until he’s 18.

“George is 15 so he would be treated just like a pro. Everton, Tottenham or whoever couldn’t touch him without negotiating with us because he was under contract.”

The Premier League were accused of “blackmailing” smaller clubs by withholding a £5m grant until their plan was passed. Christie admitted they were within their rights to do so.

“It’s their money they invest in the Football League to help with the development of younger players. They don’t have to give that.

“Bradford City have produced some wonderful, top-class young players but didn’t get value for money before. They will do now.

“Clubs wouldn’t have voted for it if was the most terrible thing that could happen.

“The worst decision that they have made in the Football League recently is going from seven subs back to five.

“That’s had an impact on a lot of clubs, especially when you want to blood a youngster on the bench.”