beerbantam
02-12-2007, 09:45 PM
Bradford have sacked manager Colin Todd and placed skipper David Wetherall in temporary charge of the first team.
Todd, 58, appointed as Bryan Robson's successor in June 2004, has seen his side slip to three points above the relegation zone following just one win in their last 10 matches.
Bradford chairman Julian Rhodes decided a change was needed at Valley Parade after City went down 1-0 at Gillingham on Saturday.
And former Bradford favourite Chris Waddle expects some "big names" to apply for the manager's job.
Waddle, who made 29 appearances for the Bantams during a short spell at the end of 1996, said: "A lot of big-name people will apply for this job.
"Don't be surprised if a few high-profile names put their hat in the ring because potentially Bradford are still a big enough club.
"It's a big catchment area and if you can get them going it's a club that should at least be in the Championship.
"Not too long ago they regularly had crowds of 18,000. Crowd-wise they're at least a Championship club."
Waddle, who believes the West Yorkshire club have still not recovered from their slide from the Premiership at the end of the 2000/1 season, was not surprised by the board's decision to sack Todd.
"It's a hard business down in the lower leagues. Colin's had to sell his best players. He had to loan out (Dean) Windass and then Jermaine Johnson was sold off.
"They had some good years not too long ago, but they're back in a slump.
"I had a good six months there, it's a good club and I thoroughly enjoyed it. They've got good supporters and they can work their way back.
"But I don't know what the financial situation is. It can't be too clever if they've had to get rid of their better players.
"It's all about balancing the books. Colin Todd has done a steady job, but it depends on what the expectations are."
Waddle said the appointment of Wetherall as caretaker-manager was a sensible option.
"David is an experienced player, he knows the club well and has been there a long time.
"He knows the financial situation, he knows the chairman and the board and it wasn't too long ago he was playing Premiership football with the club.
"You would imagine the players respect him, but the Championship looks a long way off at the moment."
Todd, who won two league titles as a centre-half with Brian Clough's Derby in the 1970s and 27 international caps for England, began his managerial career at Middlesbrough in 1990.
He took Bolton straight back up to the Premiership in 1996/7, but quit early in the 1999/2000 campaign after Wanderers had dropped back down again.
Todd also resigned five months after taking the job at Swindon in 2000 to become assistant boss at Derby for a second time and was named Robson's assistant at Valley Parade in late 2003 before taking over as manager in June 2004.
Todd, 58, appointed as Bryan Robson's successor in June 2004, has seen his side slip to three points above the relegation zone following just one win in their last 10 matches.
Bradford chairman Julian Rhodes decided a change was needed at Valley Parade after City went down 1-0 at Gillingham on Saturday.
And former Bradford favourite Chris Waddle expects some "big names" to apply for the manager's job.
Waddle, who made 29 appearances for the Bantams during a short spell at the end of 1996, said: "A lot of big-name people will apply for this job.
"Don't be surprised if a few high-profile names put their hat in the ring because potentially Bradford are still a big enough club.
"It's a big catchment area and if you can get them going it's a club that should at least be in the Championship.
"Not too long ago they regularly had crowds of 18,000. Crowd-wise they're at least a Championship club."
Waddle, who believes the West Yorkshire club have still not recovered from their slide from the Premiership at the end of the 2000/1 season, was not surprised by the board's decision to sack Todd.
"It's a hard business down in the lower leagues. Colin's had to sell his best players. He had to loan out (Dean) Windass and then Jermaine Johnson was sold off.
"They had some good years not too long ago, but they're back in a slump.
"I had a good six months there, it's a good club and I thoroughly enjoyed it. They've got good supporters and they can work their way back.
"But I don't know what the financial situation is. It can't be too clever if they've had to get rid of their better players.
"It's all about balancing the books. Colin Todd has done a steady job, but it depends on what the expectations are."
Waddle said the appointment of Wetherall as caretaker-manager was a sensible option.
"David is an experienced player, he knows the club well and has been there a long time.
"He knows the financial situation, he knows the chairman and the board and it wasn't too long ago he was playing Premiership football with the club.
"You would imagine the players respect him, but the Championship looks a long way off at the moment."
Todd, who won two league titles as a centre-half with Brian Clough's Derby in the 1970s and 27 international caps for England, began his managerial career at Middlesbrough in 1990.
He took Bolton straight back up to the Premiership in 1996/7, but quit early in the 1999/2000 campaign after Wanderers had dropped back down again.
Todd also resigned five months after taking the job at Swindon in 2000 to become assistant boss at Derby for a second time and was named Robson's assistant at Valley Parade in late 2003 before taking over as manager in June 2004.