Are they expecting FC to do the coaching and also be responsible for recruitment? Seems to be asking a lot from a new head coach with not many assistants.

Really concerned about this. I'm warming to Cummins as Head Coach but to simply give him the budget and say get on with it feels precipitous. Medley is an old head and I know he's related to Diskin who comes across as a very sensible bloke but still.

There is to much negativty about money, who will be doing what and when, the Club has shown it will cope with the ongoing adversity and so will most of the Fans, so will folk on here stop gripping and get on with some positive attitudes

In discussions with OK and his team, they made it clear that there will be no abdication of authority or responsibility. They will retain ultimate responsibility for the final decisions, especially financial. the point I think they were trying to get across is that they will not seek to meddle in areas outside of their core competances, and be fully-guided by what the professionals advise. But, from speaking with these guys, they look to be a pretty clued-up group, all with significant input and, most importantly, all trusting each other (new concept for Bulls hierarchy!) and unlikely to put up with any nonsense. And I an sure Franny will have no easy ride! The comparision with the seriously under-resourced and stress-ridden structure of recent times, and of an operation dominated by one individual, could not be more pronounced, or encouraging, in my (early) opinion.

Thought all speakers came across well, with honesty and integrity and came away feeling very positive for the future.. COYB

I asked Sutcliffe separately afterwards how many season tickets he'd budgeted for, his answer was 7,500.

Hopefully Ross at the T&A can keep the fans updated nicely how the numbers are going.

They won't get 7,500 season tickets. Can tell you that for nothing.

Hope that isn't the be all and end all of income streams otherwise we're in trouble. It's clear they have ideas to utilise Odsal more, but that will take time.

I also think 7500 is being very optimistic. How many were we selling before the cheap deals? Wasnt it around 4000? I imagine it will be more like that number now the prices have gone back up.

7500 at 2013 prices would have been equivalent to something close to 15000 this year. Seems a bit unlikely...

This point is one of the most significant aspects of last night IMO

The 'top table' came across as not only competent, but also fully focussed on working together as a team, trusting that each would work to their strengths etc.

When they say 7500 are they talking full price tickets or are they lumping the free under 12 tickets in with that figure? If the latter case then 7.5k figure sounds more realistic.

Full price.

The future prosperity and success of the club depends on the generality of the Bulls supporters, not just the most dedicated, showing they will do their bit. As a supporter, I can only add my plea to all fans who care about our future to do their bit, since the new owners' plans are relying on that. And bollox to what the RFL and others have tried to do to hamstring us; if everyone sticks together and plays their part, I believe we can show them all - and surprise them all.

Dont want to rain on anyone's parade, but if OK and Gerry think we are going to sell 7500 full price season tickets then they are no better than the last lot! No pussy footing around here. the future of our club is still at stake!

It does not take a genius to work out that if we scrapping the cheap deal will mean adult numbers will go down, not up!

I would expect season ticket sales to be no more than 5000, and thats on a good day. Thats one third less than theyre expecting! Thats 33% less revenue.

Opening the coarl stand bar everyday isnt going to bridge that gap and I sincerely hope that theyve got a better plan than this because even with my red amber and black tinted glasses on, this looks like an accident waiting to happen!

Why don't you go and talk to them first, about their plans, before rattling out all the reasons why it won't work? They are all pretty approachable, OK especially so.

I am sure that they have plenty of ideas and hopefully some will work. But I'm really commenting on those things that are public so far, ie season ticket prices and projections, and bar opening. Like I said in my post, I hope theyve got more better plans, because building trust isnt easy, and there will be significant numbers who need persuading to part with money for season tickets. Hearing that Gerry is budgeting for 7500 season ticket buying adults wont do that for a lot of people who need that trust re establishing. I'd love to be wrong, and like you Adey, I'll admit if/when I am, but so far there is a lot of "we'd like people to support the club" and not so much concrete evidence of what is in place if local businesses and fans dont come through.

Because this is Bradford and the 'can't do' attitude which pervades this city has held it back for years, which is why it is now looked on from the outside as the poor relations next to Leeds etc.

It could be the cost of the initial outlay is the problem. If thats the case then you would think the number of pay on the day supporters would increase. The downside of that is the club don't get the guaranteed income early and team needs to be successful to encourage the walk ups to attend. Lets keep positive, everythings good so far from what we have heard from the new owners. They too need encouragement, not negativity.

At end of the day season ticket numbers aren't the be all and end all. There useful to the club because it's money in the bank, even if season goes badly, and make controlling spending easier. On other hand suspect a lot who don't renew will go back to paying on gate, which is more variable depending on team performances,weather etc. But club is actually better off if they have a good season attendance wise and majority are paying on gate. Important thing is keeping paying attendance, through both season ticket and walkup, as opposed to just having a lot of season ticket holders.

I know that Gerry/OK are looking into some kind of deal surrounding the solar panels - I seem to remember Peter Hood bringing this up in one of his many interviews earlier in the year. Whether it's the same deal or not I'm not sure, but it shows they are looking into every opportunity available to them.

Understood. But, seriously, since you are a serious poster who is not easily fooled and is quite happy to play the (necessary) devil's advocate where necessary, please DO go have a chat? I really would urge that you do. They will hardly want to put everything in the public domain, but seem very willing to share their ideas and aspirations with responsible fans who have the club's interest at heart. And same to others who maybe have yet to be reassured that its a whole new ball game at the top now. They have LOADS of ideas and plans. But they all have one thing in common - everyone has to be on this journey together.

Speaking personally, I cannot begin to tell you how different it is talking to these guys compared to the previous regimes. These guys look to be in a different league - as those of us who have talked with them who are in business or have their own businesses I feel sure will attest. And in terms of opening up and communicating...well you saw the reality last night?

They three -instalments option will surely be a big help? And the pricing is, I suggest, rather better than many of us feared and expected?

I think for a lot of people the initial outlay isn't the problem, its how many games they think they will actually be able to attend. You would have to go to at least 10 of the 13 home games to make a season ticket worth while this year. Last year it was only 5. I think all those who cant guarantee how many games they will make it to will just pay on the door.

I was encouraged by the positivity last night but also by the fact that the top table looked to have some new faces on it that appeared to know what they were doing.

I think one major area that hopefuly will be addressed is that marketing of the club in the city and across the region. The forum was well attended but it was always going to be and it attracted the hardcore fans. It's the floating fans that come to the odd game that need to be attracted back along with people who've never gone before. Only by getting an injection of new faces on the terraces will we be able to move forward.

I've had a few ideas about how the club could do this, anybody got Simon's email address?

See pm.