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Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richmond has rocked boss Jim Jefferies with the news yet more players will have to be axed from the City squad in the wake of relegation.

Just 48 hours after a 2-1 defeat to Everton confirmed the inevitable, Jefferies now faces the galling prospect of trimming the squad further.

The Scot has already off-loaded 12 players - either sold or on long-term loan deals - in the past three months in preparation for life in Division One.

With Bradford having spent £13million on wages this season, Richmond ordered an immediate £8million cut in the salary budget for next season, with Jefferies having cut a swathe through his staff.

With a dozen having moved on, it was anticipated Jefferies would be allowed to build again this summer, but Richmond first wants more players to be shown the door before the Bantams boss can think about bringing fresh blood in.

"The likelihood has always been we would go down," said Richmond. "Because of that we have moved a number of players on in the last couple of months.

"Unfortunately, more will move on during the summer because life in Division One is very different financially to life in the Premier League.

"Obviously, the aim is to get back to the Premier League, but to do so without going bankrupt."

Despite the cull at Valley Parade, Richmond is convinced Bradford will have the know-how to cope with life in the top flight should they ever return.

"We defied all the odds, incredible odds, to survive in our first season," added Richmond. "We were really looking to defy gravity before we had even kicked a ball.

"Now we have to accept that we are going down, but the club bears no recognition to the one I arrived at seven years ago, nor that which went into Division One initially.

"And the next time we go in the Premier League, we may still be one of the smaller sides but we will be considerably better equipped to match the big clubs.

"Every club that gets relegated could say that the whole world was against them. But I don't want to go down with a snarl on our faces but a smile."

Bradford will also go down fighting as Jefferies realises the importance of the last four matches, which have considerable repercussions for many teams.

The Bantams first face Champions League hopefuls Liverpool on Tuesday and Leeds on May 13, as well as relegation-haunted duo Middlesbrough and Coventry.

There had been suggestions Jefferies might give several of the club's rising young stars a run out, but he said: "There's still pride at stake.

"It certainly won't be hard to motivate the players against Liverpool, a side involved in three cup finals and still going for a Champions League place.

"But we will be positive like we have been in the last few games, and teams aren't going to relish playing us because there's no pressure. We just need to make sure we maintain the same application and commitment.

"We realise we do have other teams relying on us so I want to assure them all that we will not be lying down for anybody.

"We will give it our best shot to win every game because our pride has been hurt, mine especially. I don't like being relegated."