On Friday 30 August 2002, agreement was finally reached with the Professional Footballers Association over the payment of monies owed to the players during the summer of turmoil.
With agreement having already been made with the creditors, this now allowed the Football League to return Bradford City's share in the League and were in effect no longer in Administration. All that was needed was for the Court to rubber-stamp matters a few days later.
The Richmond era at Bradford City had now finished with a new future on the horizon.
Theme Park magnate Gordon Gibb emerged as Bradford City's saviour alongside Director Julian Rhodes. The pair negotiated the legal minefield along with Richmond to save the Bantams' future with minutes to spare.
Gibb took over as Chairman from Richmond, bringing to an end an eight-and-a-half year reign.
Unlike his predecessor, Gordon Gibb did not go for the flamboyant approach as he began to pick up the pieces from the summer fall-out.
With a transfer embargo in place, Nicky Law had to show an eye for a bargain and unearthed some raw talent.
Youngsters Danny Forrest and Simon Francis emerged while the Manager worked the loan system to cope with an horrific list of injuries.
Finishing the 2002/03 season in 19th place was regarded as a success given all that had happened off the field.
However after a good start to the 2003/2004 season, Bradford's fortunes changed and finding themselves just one place off the bottom of the table with only three wins under their belt, on 9 November the Board felt that Nicky Law had been given as long as they could to turn things round and terminated his contract following the 1-1 draw at home to Walsall.
Monday 24 November 2003 saw one of the biggest causes for optimism in years
arrive for Bradford City fans with the appointment of former-England captain Bryan Robson (right) as the club's new Manager. He came with a fantastic pedigree of having taking his previous club Middlesbrough to three Cup Finals and two promotions in this five year stint at the Riverside Stadium. Robson brought in Colin Todd as his no. 2.
However on Friday 9 January 2004, Bradford City Football Club was searching for a new Chairman after Gordon Gibb suddenly quit twenty-four hours prior to a crucial game with Norwich City at Carrow Road.
He ended his 17-month reign, stepping down alongside another director, his accountant Andrew Richardson.
In a statement following his resignation, Mr Gibb said: "I feel that the time has come now for somebody else to take the responsibility of chairman with fresh enthusiasm and vigour. In respect of recent negotiations with our major creditors a solid foundation has been built for success to be brought to the club."
The club was again plunged into a financial crisis on Friday 27 February 2004 when it was put back into administration and with a transfer embargo imposed by the Football League, Bryan Robson's hands were tied unable to bring in many players in an attempt to stave off relegation. The few players he was able to sign on loan were all badly hit by injuries and he was left with just 19 professionals to see out the season.
Such was the task that even the former England stalwart was unable to save the Bantams from relegation whose fate was confirmed following the 2-3 home defeat by Wimbledon, who themselves were already destined for Division 2 football on Saturday 17 April 2004.
A troublesome summer in 2004 saw several players quit the club to be guaranteed football elsewhere with the future of the Bantams not known.
Another departure saw Bryan Robson leave the club having said he would only want to continue in the post as Manager if the club were out of administration and it was evident that this would not be the case for some time.
On 17 June, his assistant Colin Todd took over as Manager with the popular Reserve & Youth Team Manager Bobby Davison being promoted to No.2.
However it wasn't going to be an easy start for the pair as four days later Chief Executive Julian Rhodes resigned and the following week the administrators running the club gave the Landlord of the stadium an ultimatum - allow the Bantams rent-free use of Valley Parade for a year or the club would close.
Such was the severity of the problems that the administrators came to within ten minutes of closing the club down. But after a lot of hard work and assurances, the Football League eventually gave the Bantams the go ahead on Thursday 29 July to start the new season the following week in the Coca-Cola Football League 1.
In the months which followed Julian Rhodes was involved in lengthy discussions to buy out the club and after several stumbling blocks were negotiated, the club finally exited administration on Friday 10 December 2004 with a new future on the horizon.
