As said previously minus rose tinted spectacles - its far worse than is currently being said - see below - we remain in special measures;

[urlhttps://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/bradford-bulls-in-special-measures-as-move-to-dewsbury-rams-allowed-for-one-season-only-following-odsal-exit-1-9954705[/url


12 players on contract for 2020 and not allowed to sign anyone.


James Green already gone and the players are now being exposed to this news today - so who outside the 12 we have will hang around to see what happens next?

York and other clubs will be circling now I fear.

What a mess - once again finances all over the place with high wages paid to non footballing staff who do little to earn it - just the same under Marc Green.

So I wonder again - just what is the criteria to be granted ownership of a rugby league club? Must not be able to do sums?

As for Nigel Wood and his presence at the club - just another mystery.

Dominoes could start falling over now with season ticket sales being the next problem on the back of this.

A state of affairs where the RFL own a speedway and stock car venue where no Rugby is played is ridiculous. Seems nailed on then doesn't it.

I'd second that, even though I have very fond memories of going to Odsal on Sunday mornings with my Dad and helping lay down the corners (not sure it would be allowed now to let a 10yr old help carrying heavy pallets loaded with turf). Roger Simpson was the groundsman at the time and rubbing shoulders with him like that used to blow my mind (I was a child afterall).

Plus its not exactly like Stock Cars and Speedway are going to be packing in the crowds or bring a huge financial backer with them either. Take a look at the venues they use and you can see ther is even less money in their sports than there is in RL.

Speedway have a national stadium built in Manchester but if you take a look at it, I doubt it would have ever come off had it not been for the adjoinging leisure facilities and 3G pitch (in the middle).

I just cannot see a viable solution to the existing stadium and for me the solution lays with the land over the road (Richard Dunnes).

The key is always going to be "multi-use" stadium. Bulls as anchor tenants, as much football in there as can be arranged. Surrounding area with 4G pitches - again multi use. Is there scope for covered cricket - nets, for off season?

My own personal desire would be for Horsfall to be developed further purely for athletics and BPA to be equal shareholders in a community stadium, but as they've just invested more into Horsfall, It may not be an option.

Problem with Horsfall is that its unlikely you would ever get a safety certificate to sign off on a decent capacity due to its loaction and objection from neighbours. This was one of the reasons the Bulls chose Dewsbury as a short term option (the other being to try and force the RFL/Councils hand).

There is no reason why Horsfall couldn't be developed as a local sports hub that would be home to BPA and Bulls development academies (along with other benefitial public bookings) and a community stadium with a modest opening capacity (with room to expand if required) for the Bulls and BPA to share for their first teams.

Take a look at the last council sports pitch audit and findings (2013) and you will find a bleak picture back then. If anything its got worse and the council have a duty to provide for their communities... I'd be surprised if much of the action points have actually been carried out.

When it's put like that....