Bantams happy to take field

The storm clouds over Bradford City were lifted this afternoon as Nicky Law sent out his team to contest a fixture which might never have taken place.

Football at last was allowed to take precedence over the club’s crippling financial problems with new chairman Gordon Gibb having in position a survival package following the resignation of Geoffrey Richmond.

But while Law and his players, who were not paid for 16 weeks after the club went into administration, the immediate task was to stop promotion-chasing Wolves on the field.

The Bantams boss included all three recent arrivals – Paul Evans, Andy Gray and Gus Uhlenbeek – in his starting line-up.

Opposite number Dave Jones named new signings Denis Irwin and Ivar Ingimarsson in his side but, although Shaun Newton shook off a toe injury to declare himself fit, there was no place in the 16 for former Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince.

Bradford: Walsh, Uhlenbeek, Myers, Wetherall, Emanuel, Lawrence, Evans, Kearney, Gray, Ward, Cadamarteri.

Subs: Davison, Atherton, Bower, Tod, Standing.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Irwin, Lescott, Butler, Naylor, Newton, Ingimarsson, Rae, Cameron, Blake, Miller.

Subs: Murray, Ndah, Pollet, Cooper, Camara.

Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear)