By Paul Holmes
May 24 2002

The Professional Players Association has slammed the move by Bradford to terminate the contracts of 19 players as disgraceful. PFA deputy chief executive, Mick McGuire said the PFA was shocked by the Bantams move.

If administrators choose to disregard regulations in this way that has far-reaching implications for football as a whole - players can then unilaterally breach contracts in the way the Bradford administrators have done.

"If everyone disregarded what they had promised, that would set a precedent and a base mark for other clubs to do that.

"It sends its own message to Bradford when a club behave as dishonourably as this.

"It's disgusting and puts the whole game in jeopardy."

McGuire then called the actions hypocritical

"They have made a big play that Carlton and Granada (who owned ITV Digital) have ignored contracts they cannot afford to pay - but they have done the same thing.

It is now thought that Bradford could face expulsion from the Football League following these actions.

This will no dount add fuel to rumours of The Old Firm joining the Nationwide as replacements for Bradford and another team.