Not at all.

That would have been a fair expectation had the RFL not paid the Bulls a capital sum for the lease. Then, what the Bulls would effectively have received for assigning the lease FOC to the RFL was relief from future maintenance etc costs.

But a big capital sum has seemingly been agreed, so the Bulls are already compensated - in full, or in part at least.

Of course, it MAY be that the capital sum is lower than it might otherwise have been, and the RFL are instead taking on some at least of the costs... the fine details may never come out.

But, whichwever way you look at it, it looks a bit like an equity release - where you sell a house for a capital sum now, and pay future rent to use it. But doubtless with additional features - such as the additional opportunities it opens up for the RFL.

Sounds like good news for the Bulls, and SL (assuming fans of other clubs can take off their blinkers).

Hopefully this will mean some actual progress on the upgrading of Odsal... I'm not sure what the point of this move would be if the Bulls lose their SL licence in the coming years due to the poor state of the stadium!

So much for the RFL's anti-Bradford leanings... I wonder if El Presidente was in favour of this - I suspect he was.

No no no no Adey!!! Strap ya self in pal! (and the rest of ya) this has got plenty of mileage in it

this gift is gonna keep on giving

There are many things still up in the air with this though.

Chiefly, ground improvements. With the club now paying, as the T&A puts it, "a commercial rent", does this make the RFL responsible for upkeep? I'd assume it does, but can anyone see the them, making substantial improvements, or even having the money to do so? The 'political' fall-out from within the rugby league world would be enormous even if they did vote to do it.

What does puzzle me slightly is why the RFL bought the lease, rather than the freehold. Admittedly there are other expenses involved, like being responsible for the waste (and who knows what) buried deep under the foundations of the ground, but if you're going to pay a lot of money, on the face of it, assuming the council were willing to sell , it would have seemed the better option - and the council do seem to be in an asset selling mode (offices etc) at the moment.

Some so called Rugby League supporters have really shown themselves up with their bitter comments over the whole Odsal situation.

I suppose [iif [/ithe RFL could make profit out of any investment (or more likely part investement alongside us) it could be another win win, they(we) build a shiney new stand and contribute £x, over the next 20 years they make back £x+£y through a percentage of the commercial income from the stand, the rfl could (should) make money out of their investment to put back into the wider game.

ignore them Mick,its all envy

if the RFL were to base themselves at Odsal, I wonder if the club shop would start selling England RL gear?

... and if Roger says it is, then it is

I suspect the freehold would have cost far, far more than the leasehold. Since the freehold confers the development rights, if the sitting tenant can be "cohersed" to leave...

Had the council sold the freehold, even on an "existing use" basis, I suspect they would have been open to severe attack for disposing of an asset at less than potential market value (i.e for development).

Also, it may have been that the Bulls were able to assign the lease, on FA's "permission not to be unreasonably withheld" basis, to another RL organisation under the terms of the lease. That could have meant the club being able to proceed even if the council was opposed.

See my post separately regarding my thoughts on who pays the upkeep. I'd like to have some more info on this area.

Aardvark,must admit when i heard this news i thought could this be a wind up, but then i thought who could of possibly made up something like this,think its brilliant

It's either that or professional jealousy. I mean no disrespect to the more sensible posters on the Wakefield Rugby League RL Fans board, but wasn't it the RFL that kept them in Super League over Halifax only last summer?

I think we'll get those tonight at Odsal.

thats true Mick, some people have very short memories

nothing against wakey at all and i hope they get everything sorted out asap either sorting belle vue out or moving to a new ground

What's the name of the pub you run again? Might have to make a visit

Mick, I suspect the onslught would have been considerably less had the facts been more clearly explained in the original press release.

And rather less emphasis had been placed on the "iconic stadium" spin, and rather more on the substance of the arrangement.

There is an excellent post on this subject by Roy Haggerty on the VT.

I can fully understand other fans going apoplectic at the original release. Even we only had a quarter of the tale (as opposed to teh half the tale we have now...

)

Those who put up reasoned arguments are fine. Especially when they revisit their original poistion when more of the substance comes out. Those who chose to see what theyt wanted to see regardless - well that is par for the course for them anyway?


And I have already pointed out on the Trin forum that the RFL DID help THEM too.

I think they will say that will be covered at the forthcoming fans' forum - the sudden addition of may not be a coincidence, although the club held a forum before the start of last season too so it might just be.

I noticed you online at 2:30am this morning fighting our corner on the VT.

You are a great ambassador for Bulls fans worldwide.

Mick i cant make it tonight,no doubt it will be the topic of conversation on here tomorrow

can you ask when caisleys coming back


heard a little rumour caisley is coming back and hood is going,now im not sure on this one so dont want to damage my record

Who knows. But it would only be if Caddick said it was OK

The story about Caisley trying to get back has been around for a while. Doubt smoke but no fire. His public comments (acknowledged and persona) have done little to dispel the view. I really, really hope that does not come to pass.

For what it's worth mate (and I accept it's not a lot

) there is [ialways[/i some rumour about CC coming back, and I'd guess that as long as he keeps his very significant holding in the club, one of the rumours will prove true, eventually.

So we could be paying more rent and still be paying for the maintenance?
That changes it from a decent deal into a pretty poor one doesn't it?