It isn't spam, and our mods are pretty chilled out. You might want to throw in something about cake to make sure.

I do care, I really don't want to see Bradford go under. I went to my first away match at Odsal, and actually my dfirst home match was against Northern as well.

However, I have serious reservations about this. On the one hand, if Mrs Koukhash is really prepared to pour a load of money into it to plug the holes, with no immediate return on that investment (i.e. it's just to get back to zero) that would be a start. But then somebody needs to fix the many systemic problems with the club (including but not limited to the money pit stadium that seems to eat most of the revenue) that are powering the current spiral in and out of administration.

In short, I think I'd rather see it go under and start again in the next tier (a la Castleford) and come back strong and viable in the long term than get another quick fix.

So I'd want to know a lot more about what's actually being proposed first.

I am also not overly keen on Dr Koukhash's approach to running an RL club, or most of his proposals for running the sport (which seem to hinge on asssuming everyone has money to burn, or that the key to the sport's success is allowing one or two wealthy backers to buy success). I believe his preferred model will take us in the direction that football has already gone in that only teams with a huge income stream that's totally separate to the actual business activity can hope to thrive.

So while I hope it all works out in the end, I don't feel conviced enough that Mandy koukhash is the answer to sign a petition about it.

Sorry.

Unfortunately the only answer for the Bulls is a Koukash style injection of funds.

The idea that the club could liquidate and “start again in the championship” is very wishful thinking. The big issue here is where the club would play. If a “new” Bradford were to rise from the ashes in championship 1 they’d have to either play at Odsal or Valley Parade. Option 1 is out of the question financially for a club in that division IMO. Odsal is like a blackhole for money. The RFL may own the lease but unless they picked up the tab for maintenance it’d be a non starter on championship income. Option 2 – Valley Parade would mean coming to some arrangement regarding rent with BCFC. Could the new club afford that? Possibly, but there are plenty of supporters that remain very reluctant to travel to that part of the city. Many would see it as a non starter so it’s a massive gamble.

Unless the “new” Bulls in the national leagues had some cash behind it to build a winning side I think crowds (and income) would plummet. The last time we sank to those depths we had 324 supporters at an overgrown Odsal in 1963, a week later the club folded.

Unfortunately professional RL has almost always lost money in Bradford. The only way around that is the largesse of a multi millionaire who can guarantee the losses (a la Caddick) until we get on an even keel.

i have no problem with Marwan or his ideas for running the game, he is shaking up the status quo and is one of the few people with confidence and ambition for the game who wants to take the fight to them.

What Koucash has done for Salford is exactly what Salford needed, someone to ruffle some feathers and get the name out there. The north west is one of the most saturated sports markets in the world for a sport like RL to get in the limelight it needs someone big and brash and promising the best. People with the options of going to see numerous premier league and championship football, top class cricket and RU teams are not going to be grabbed by a slow and steady approach. Put simply cutting your cloth accordingly is pretty pointless if you cut it so small people dont want it.

I think the idea that Bradford can regroup in the lower leagues is wrong, it just doesnt work and wont work for them, their money pit of a stadium will still be a money pit, they will just have less income to sustain it. Their youth development will be destroyed, the brand damaged and fewer people will be exposed to top class RL because of it. Koukash has the money to avoid that.,

I think at Leeds we have been very lucky in seeing a golden generation of our youngsters and plenty more come through since then, but it has given the impression that money doesnt need to be spent and splashing the cash is to the detriment of this.

It isnt..... Even Leeds, as a club, when necessary have splashed the cash and spent big money on big names. We gave hundreds of thousands to Warrington for Harris, we saw the likes of Clyde in the early 2000's Our 2004 team contained some big signings like McKenna and Bai. Ali Lauitiiti was the best 2nd rower in the world at the time with nearly every NRL and SL club desperate to get their hands on him. He was probably the biggest transfer in world rugby that year.

By 2007 we had added Brent Webb who was the current NZ fullback, Ellis was a GB international as well as one of the best props in the game in Peacock.

We built a great development system that has seen some of the best youngsters in the country, as well as us signing some of the best youngsters in the country, who have come through in to a team with big names, with experience, with quality and with the ability to compete.

We aren’t in the same position as Salford. We have already seen and signed big names and large numbers of them, its the same with Bradford who have dropped back the gains they had made.

So what do we know about Mandy Koukash?

What independent wealth of her own does she have, that isn't dependent on Hubby giving her some pocket money to play with?

What experience does she have of running a business, either in a sporting environment or otherwise?

What are her longer term plans for the Bulls in terms of turning it into a realistic, self supporting business that isn't reliant on her/Marwan propping it up?

The last time the administrator rushed into finding a buyer with big ideas, big words and supposedly plenty of funds they ended up with ailing Omar and the invisible Gerry Sutcliffe. Quite what heading into the same situation over again would achieve god only knows, but it seems to be what the Bulls fans want

We could say that about anyone really though couldnt we. Ian Lenegan made his money in computer systems, Eamon McManus and Ken Davy through finance, Gary Hetherington was an RL player, and Kath sold double glazing, Neil Hudgell chased ambulances.

Bar Adam Pearson, there are few people running RL clubs where you would look at their CV and think they had the knowledge or experience to do it.

Judging by the comment she made at the recent Bradford V Huddersfield game we learnt she doesn't know the difference between 120,000 and 102,000.

I’m not sure how independent Many Koukash is or whether she’d know what she was doing. However she appears to be very wealthy, from one source or another and that’s the most important factor. You could have the most canny person ever in charge but if they’re skint it’s not going to keep the club going.

Our previous owners going back decades have all run the club to a loss and some have made enormous mistakes, Caisley, Hood, Khan etc. Maybe Koukash is no different but there aren’t any other options IMO.

If Bradford does go into liquidation the sport would lose a “big” club in Bradford which would probably never be replaced and many of those fans would find things to do unconnected with RL. That would be a shame. Is the sport so healthy it can allow that to happen?

It appears to me that we’re in a situation not too dissimilar from when Leeds were struggling with debts before Caddick came in to guarantee them. How we could do with a similar white knight and some canny people to then get the club on an even keel.

Correction, she is married in to wealth. Effectively, as the husband with the money already owns one club, that same person would technically own two.

I'm unfamiliar with where she got her money. However whether it's all her husband's or not she's the only show in town.

Whether 1 person can indirectly, through a partner, own 2 clubs is worth debating.

I can see potential issues but are they so important its worth sacrificing a club for them? After all Gary and Kath are married and make strategic decisions on behalf of their clubs.

How come posted on every Superleague team a part from Wakefield?

What do we really know about the Koukashes?
We are led to believe he is a super-star of a businessman - as such he should be relied upon to spot a good business opportunity, shouldn't he?

First it might be prudent to question his business acumen in the matter of his massive "investment" in Salford RL. Is this really a good business opportunity?

Most of us old hands remember the Brian Snape days, with the multiple innovations he brought to the club - Friday night rugby with plenty of activity and attractions for the rest of the family and for all after the match for example.
He poured money into developing the team with some memorable signings, as well as the infrastructure. Reasonable crowds lasted for a few years, but it didn't last.

The inescapable fact is that Manchester just isn't a "Heartland" area - it's a football area, and with City and United on offer, is it any wonder?
So would a good business investor be really wise to persist in the face of this?
I think not.

Then on to the Bulls and their appalling mess!
Is Bradford really a good business proposition either?
With poor attendances added to the afore-mentioned "money-pit" of a stadium?
I think not.
Even worse than Salford I would say.

So who are these Koukashes?
Are they really interested in Superleague, or are they looking for a convenient drain down which to pour untold wealth?
What is their motivation?
How can a good businessman, or (even more important) his wife justify this reckless lifestyle?

I trust we lifetime supporters will view the affair with the benefit of hindsight.
Time will tell!

Because there is probably too many buffoons on there

Perhaps the major difference being that Paul Caddick had something tangible to invest in when taking ownership of the Headingley complex.

Probably right, though one could argue that Odsal, given it's situation near the motorway might be an investment opportunity if you had enough money.

Obviously Leeds Rhinos, being in Leeds is a better investment proposition than just about any other RL club.

Though Mandy Koukash's financing was supposed to be coming from a Liverpool hotelier/gangster?

Who knows. I thought it was her and her husband's joint account!

I'd be careful what you say on t'internet without any proof.

There was a time when I'd be saddened by the loss of any RL club but I've no sympathy whatsoever for failed, brand named, SL franchises unwilling to take responsibility for their own basket-case SL mediocrity. It's either SL or nothing for them, such is the level of arrogance displayed by both club and fans. Always insistent they must dine from the top table or they will die... now give us our RFL handouts, our Sky money, etc... blah, blah, blah. Not forgetting their previous history of screwing over other struggling clubs and offering no support whatsoever [url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/mar/20/rugbyleague.theobserver(eg, London)[/url.

Franchised mediocrity is over. Take your medicine. That's what the return of P&R is for. Oh, and feel free to return as Bradford Northern.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqiblXFlZukSo long, it's been good to know you[/url.

A statement from the man who started this whole mess

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9SSyMN75wYOh Mandy, well you came and you gave without taking, and I sent you away, oh Mandy, and you kissed me and stopped me from shaking, and I need you today, oh Mandy...[/url

WHY?

The last thing Bradford need is another alleged saviour, what they need to do is live within there means. This off season they were still signing high profile players despite the fact they were on the verge of going bust. As a club they are such an example of how things should not be run, when they were wining everything why did they not invest in the infer structure?. I have heard comments about the fact Paul Caddick is Leeds sugar daddy, rubbish, Leeds are run and I believe are the only Rugby club of either code that makes money each year.

The RFL should let Bradford go and start afresh in the championship.

Is that the same bunch off buffoons who, along with lots of other fans, urged Bradford fans not to throw their money down the toilet by propping up what was clearly a business in dire straits 2 years ago? Or the same bunch of buffoons who made the brave decision not to prop-up their own ailing club and owner of the time without a clear understanding of where that money was going & take the risk of seeing their club fall out of the top flight but survive rather then see their or other fans risk their hard earned cash? Or is the current owner who is the buffoon, who having rescued the club from another poor financial position took hard decisions, sold players, made savings & cut the cloth of their club to suit while the previous owners of Bradford did not do any of those things and then also expected yet another bail-out option from the game?

I feel desperately sorry for Bradford fans that, having been conned out of plenty of cash already, might now see their club either die forever or have to start again unless a new investor can bed found, but equally some fans need to take a long hard look in the mirror!

I'm actually on about the buffoons who post tripe on the Bulls board

Whilst Bradford do need to live within their means that generally can't happen immediately in a business and especially a sporting one. They have players already on contracts, you need to move the expensive players on or renegotiate their deals. That doesn't happen immediately and the club requires an owner to fund losses until they can run within their means.

There also isn't an option of Bradford going bust and starting again in the Championship. If anything it would have to be Championship One but how would a "new" Bradford make money compared to the old one? Admittedly free of debt but it would still need to play at a ground they don't own, still need to pay players and staff and do this on significantly smaller budget without Sky money.

Whatever happens to Bradford they'll need a financial backer in the short to medium term.

This new geezer Green seems to have bought the club now. So presumably Mandy is out of the picture?

I don't care... I'm still signing the petition.

This Green chap can't even spell his first name correctly so God only knows how he'll get on running Bradford Balls.