Wrong just so wrong, conflict started when RFL bought the lease, although I think they part own keighley too.

I can only see this going towards a sell off after the season has ended.

Just a big sorry mess and a bit of an embarrassment to the sport.

That will be the legacy of the Bradford Bulls, not what they acheived 1996-2005.

I think it means they will not get a licence. They will get to the end of 2012 and more than likely be dropped to the championship. Expect to see their players sign for other clubs over the next few weeks.

When Widnes were refused a licence first time around it was because of the Administration they had previously gone into. Even though the current chairman said he could demonstrate real liquidity.

Will the same criteria apply to the Bulls next licence application?

Not only that G O'conner actually wrote the RFL a cheque covering the whole seasons running costs to secure their place which was declined.

What do you think mate? It stinks

A conflict of interests is not necessarily a disaster, provided it is declared, transparent and governed properly.

However, the idea of the body that issues the franchises owning one of the clubs applying for them really does seem more than a little iffy.

It will be interesting to see how this is actually going to work when the further details of the operation of the scheme are revealed....

Have to agree it is a disgrace.

Can only imagine majority of club chairman agreed to go along with this farce because of threat to their own clubs finances and the whole host of problems caused by the Bulls vanishing iminently.

Lots of questions to be answered on this still,while im glad for Bulls fans that they seem to still have a club this cant be right can it?

There are some level headed posters on the Bulls forum.

They seem to think the Bulls will be sold off at the end of the season or moved to Championship 1.

This is a result, but the way we might get to that result is not right.

It does a couple of positive things though it gets rid of the administrator and his wage, plus it puts an end to the ABC consirtium " money for Noting" bids, with conditions of course!!

They will have to lose the franchise otherwise it looks very wrong because:
1) the body that owns them is involved in making the decision!
2) the surety of keeping the franchise wasn't given to other bidders - who may in fact have produced a better offer?
3) the organisation making the offer to buy is linked to those rejecting the other competitive bids!

Lets just remember what matters here: What's right for the sport of rugby league.
I don't think there is any doubt that the presence of the Bradford Bulls in SL has always been a positive, with typically higher than average spectator numbers, playing success and production of youth players. To see that go (or reduced) would be a detriment to the sport.

Governing bodies owning clubs is not unprecedented, and I believe to have happened in the NBA and NHL - I need to go look that up now.

Should they have preferable treatment to others?

RL fan default position = "it's a joke and a disgrace!"

The way I see it this is only a temporary stay of execution. I can't see the Bulls starting 2013 SL season owned by SLE. It should remove the threat of imminent liquidation and also clear the path for new bids to buy the club.

If anybody is so infuriated maybe they should complain to Gary Hetherington who was one that apparently voted for this to happen...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes

What makes you call it preferable treatment?

Said anti requisite was removed when Celtic Crusaders went into administration, if they want you in then they change the rules change to fit

I fully understand what the RFL are trying to do. I do not blame them. They're making the best of a very embarrassing situation the game has been put into by the Bradford Bulls. And I use that phrase deliberately. Not Caisley, not Hood, not the administrator. The Bradford Bulls.

Everyone involved should hang their heads. From the directors than ran the club with very little regard for sound economies right down to the apathetic public of Bradford who drifted away when the trophies dried up and were only enticed back by the suicidal cut price ticket offer.

Clearly, not the likes of you Sam, or others who stood on the wintry terraces shouting Northern and Steam Pigs but the public (and businesses) of Bradford should be ashamed that they didn't support the Bulls adequately and, when that fact became clear, the directors and staff who failed to cut their cloth accordingly.

The Bulls must have surely used up all goodwill outside Bradford City Limits. Certainly in Widnes, Keighley, Wakefield and other clubs left to claw their own way out of their own mess.

I'm sure nobody wanted Woolworths to go under. It had done a great deal for retail and had a nostalgic aura about it. Nobody wanted staff and shareholders to lose their jobs. But similarly, nobody shopped there. Nobody wants the Bulls to go under, but how long can they survive on other charity and how long should they do so?

From what I hear we've got until November 30th.

And if things go pear shaped as a Pudsey lad you'll be welcome with open arms as one of ours that went astray for a whee while.

A bit like Anakin Skywalker chucking Emperor Palpatine down the pit at the end of Return of the Jedi, you will be redeemed.

Can you get a season ticket for the away end at Bass Headingley?



If they do go pear shaped it'll be Bramley for me (nearer my spiritual home).

Any evidence of this?

Bass Headingley



Brings back visions of Paul Harkin running around in a Carlsberg sponsored Leeds jersey.

Has that cheered you up?

Interesting post Gareth.

I share your sentiments to some extent, but I think the suggestion that the people of Bradford are any more inclined to be apathetic in general than the people of any other city is a bit unlikely. I think the loss of fans (which preceded the drying up of trophies btw) came about through

1. The move to VP most likely broke habits
2. The failure to redevelop Odsal - something that has never been within the club's control
3. General disquiet about the city of Bradford itself - telling-people-you're-from Leeds/near Leeds syndrome
4. And I'm going to be controversial here, the failure of the Deakin method of marketing - far too hinged on the team being successful IMO.

When I go up to games now, very few of the old faces round me who watched in the Northern days are there, even though the majority aren't that old. And most games that take place, my old face won't be there. That's not because of apathy but because of life circumstances. They've seen a lot worse than the last few years, I know because i watched it with them. The club's failure has been in not replacing these people like myself who no longer regularly attend for whatever reason.

A person who lorded it over Leeds fans around the turn of the millennium and then scuttled off when the tide shifted is undoubtedly a bell. But I don't know how many of those there are and whether there were more at Bradford than attach themselves to any club.

I appreciate the Woolworths analogy but it's not really valid. People went and shopped else where. There are a large number of people who will 'shop' at Bradford but are unlikely to do so at Leeds, Fax, Keighley or Huddersfield should Bradford no loner be an option. I doubt many former Woolies patrons are so picky.

The episode has been embarrassing to the game, I agree, but I think the blame lies with the club's management, the council and circumstances in general rather than the people of Bradford. I hope today proves to be a positive move and that Bradford RLFC ( happy now?

) are able to take advantage of 150 years of history and what is a resilient hardcore support to make further contributions to the success of the game.

Let's hope the RFL are not incharge at millenium Magic next year. Calls by the Bradford CEO to demand the points because Leeds cheated may be treated with a lot more sympathy.

I haven't stolen pick and mix from anywhere else.