Read the Old Viking message with interest. Agree 100% that the RFL and SLE have zero interest in teams outside the top tier. I would go a stage further and say they have no interest in SL teams outside the top six! Just look at all the teams that have emerged and collapsed in the last ten years. But going back to the Bradford Bulls I do think they have a secured a temporary stayof execution. The RFL and SLE cannot afford to subsidise beyond the short term. Unfortunately for the Bulls they are skint and bankrupt now and nothing is going to materially change in the next few months. They must be hoping for a multimillion to come in over the horizon. Possible but very unlikely; the game all levels is hardly a major profit maker and unfortunately the signs are there for all to see that the situation is going to get worse. For the life of me I can't understand why the various club chairman(they wield the real power NOT Nige) and bit the bullet go back to semi pro status and go back to league based on a regional basis.

So the bidders say: We don't want to buy them if they can't stay in Superleague.

SLE/RFL reply (with a wink): You put in an unconditional bid publicly and you will be staying in Superleague.

Usual underhand dealing we've come to expect from them.

Bradford City have said they will buy The Bulls if in super league or championship though, but what goes on in these negotiations we'll never know.

That is their PUBLIC announcement. Cue SLE/RFL (in private) reply.

That's pretty much it. ABC's bid was obviously unpallatebale to the RFL so they trotted out this "unconditional" clause but, like with their amazing subjective licensing "criteria" they can use it to suit their agenda when a "proper" bidder comes in.

They've probably done so much w=#FF0000inking yesterday that their =#FF0000eye-lids are dropping off.


I'll be glad when this sorry saga is over. Only one more year left and the licensing process starts again - how are the RFL going to add credibility to the process after Bradford have just effectively brought the whole system into disrepute for the last 6 months?

Quote ="Fax Machine"That is their PUBLIC announcement. Cue SLE/RFL (in private) reply.'" Its quoted to have been said here by joint chairman Julian Rhodes www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... the_Bulls/ I also read this morning there are now 5 more interested partys though!

Quote ="Fax Machine"That is their PUBLIC announcement. Cue SLE/RFL (in private) reply.'" Its quoted to have been said here by joint chairman Julian Rhodes www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... the_Bulls/ I also read this morning there are now 5 more interested partys though!