Sparks: I’m young and up for fight
ROOKIE Bradford CEO Ryan Sparks has vowed to silence the snipers who claim he is too inexperienced to save the club from non-league oblivion.
Sparks, 29, recently replaced Mansfield’s
David Sharpe as the youngest chief executive in all four professional divisions of the English game.
He was handed the reins at Valley Parade following the departure of Julian Rhodes – with the Bantams in danger of relegation from m League Two.
Sparks’ appointment has been criticised as a cheap option by fed-up fans who fear the drop after the club fell to their lowest position since 2012.
Yet Sparks said: “I think it would be a waste of time to get hung up on people who may look at my age and doubt my ability.
“Yes, it’s my first job as a chief executive but I’ve been working towards this for a long time.
“When I was 16, I decided I want to run a sports club by the age of 30 and I’ve done that.
“I’ve been here for nearly three years and I know what the club is all about – and why we are in this position.
“I don’t run away from trouble or a fight and nobody wants this club to succeed more than me. I’ve got a young head but thick skin and broad shoulders.
“The club desperately needed a permanent chief executive and, while everyone is entitled to their opinion, I’m happy to be judged by my actions.
“I’ll certainly be doing everything in my power to ensure we have every chance of staying in the Football League.
“Those are words I never want to repeat and we have not made a good start to the season.
“But now, with the some sta stability and clar clarity off the fie field, I believe t that can influence what we do on it.”
Sparks, who pr previously work worked in rugby league at Bradford
Bulls and Featherstone Rovers, has been promoted from a commercial role at the Bantams.
Stuart McCall (inset), in his third spell as Bradford boss, has faced calls for his head by some fans following the club’s alarming form.
Yet he was handed a contract extension and Sparks added: “I accept results haven’t gone as we’d like them to.
“But I don’t think there are many people on this planet that understand what this club’s identity should be, more than Stuart McCall. He needs our support right now.”