Maybe you forget we best Salford by a fair margin?? Yes the odds are stacked but if we had performed to our full potential then we could have won the MPG... We didn't perform to our best for the full game and the obvious result happened.

We will never be off the naughty step with the present regime at the RFL. However it is the system which is wong, as when it came into being we were under the impression that we would be contesting the teams as they started at the beginning of the Season, given injury replacements etc. This did not happen - and as someone pointed out two teams were given points deductions for playing ineligible players the previous season, so one can take it that these rules did not apply. So what rules were in place to make the competition fair? One- championship clubs were on an unequal pay incentive and two the difference in the two leagues is almost insurmountable. Three, dont hold your breath that this is going to alter.

Unfortunately for us, we were the lower ranked team in games against SL clubs. In those circumstances it really meant [iwe[/i needed to play at our best and the SL clubs needed to be a bit behind [itheir[/i best. If both played to their best we were always going to lose against SL clubs, imo.

Salford were poor and well and truly behind their best form so, on the day, our top notch performance deserved the win. In the other games, we were overpowered by better sides who clearly brought their A games. In the final, you're correct to say we [icould[/i have won, but whilst having our moments, we certainly weren't at our best and Wakefield managed to pull it together sufficiently to take the spoils.

We SHOULD have won the MPG and it is certain if poor Danny Addy had kicked those 2 goals then we WOULD now be in SL.

But it was only because Wakefield were in disarray leading up to the game and short of key players as well. That's what gave us a chance (which we all know we should have taken). All I am saying is that such an opportunity isn't likely to come along again.

If we had played Salford in the MPG then I would anticipate the bookies giving us a respectful 28 start. We had a great win, but it wasn't the MPG. In which we would more likely have ended up with another 50 past us. IMHO of course.

I agree with this completely!



Agree to a point.

But whilst I am really not a fan of the new system... It does creates that "one off" game where anything "could" happen. Next year will be no different in the sense that whoever reaches the MPG has the chance in a "one off" game to gain promotion, regardless if wakey or any other club have a meltdown or not.

Taking my Bulls hat off, I honestly believe we had a better team overall than Wakey in the MPG and that's why it's frustrating not to have performed for the full 80! If we had and got the result, I am sure we would be talking very differently about the chances the system offers championship clubs. Even if we still didn't agree with it.

IMO the biggest problem with the system is the fact we weren't playing at a high enough intensity on a regular basis and that naturally will have a huge effect in high intensity games like MPG. That said I actually feel as though we have a better chance next year based on having a team where half the squad wont be new... plus a years experience in the championship and lessons learnt from the qualifiers- hopefully!

In summary... I don't think ours, Leigh's or anyone else chances will be weaker next year- perform on the day and you give yourself the best chance, don't perform and then it's back to championship. The format certainly won't change for the next couple of years so we need to learn how to handle it better.

Going back to the thread subject, I am pleased to note that the Bulls have now come up with a payment plan for memberships, which is especially good news and attractive for those missing the old "early bird" discounts. The deal is to pay in 4 equal monthly instalments. You can do it through the website, too. Nice touch. (If it works!) www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/membersh ... stallments

Going back to the thread subject, I am pleased to note that the Bulls have now come up with a payment plan for memberships, which is especially good news and attractive for those missing the old "early bird" discounts. The deal is to pay in 4 equal monthly instalments. You can do it through the website, too. Nice touch. (If it works!) www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/membersh ... stallments

I don't see why we can't spread payments over 10 months. Starting now, it covers the off season and finishes in July with 2 months of the season to go. Merchandising is at its peak before Xmas as well which covers any potential shortfall in the offseason. Many people would allow it to roll over to the next year. Can easily forecast income, especially as central funding is monthly from the RFL. The only problem would be spotting people cancelling their direct debit, but some decent software would cover that. Oh well, something for the future I suppose.

m.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/spo ... ___Ferres/ Another positive story to help drive membership sales

m.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/spo ... ___Ferres/ Another positive story to help drive membership sales

Managing expectations and preparing us for a permanent stay in the Championship. Ambition sailed with the vote of confidence in Lowes.

Presumably we're being prepared for the moment 12 months hence when we're told 5th in the Championship can't possibly be judged as failure.

As on any view, that would be a comprehensive failure, that would take some preparation. Is Derren Brown joining the board?

Well you have a go at explaining it then.

So the team is essentially staying the same, the coaching staff is a man down, the head coach is the same and our rivals are all improving. We weren't good enough in 2015 when we faced arguably the poorest team we're ever likely to see in the MPG. Excellent news once again from the club and Ferres. Considering the buzz we had about the place this time last year, the club seem to be getting it all wrong so far as I can see.

I don't think selling season tickets is Steve Ferres's strong point.

The past few articles haven't made me want to rush out and renew. In fact they've had the opposite effect though I'll probably do it out of a sense of obligation rather than enthusiasm. I recognise that we're a bit skint and the competition is going to be harder but if you seriously wanted to sell tickets you'd be emphasising the fact that we've:

held onto our better players and mention how good they are - how many assists and line breaks from Gaskell for example.
that we'll see further improvement in young players, look at how Olbison came on.
that we've the best academy in the champioinship and better than many SL teams too, do a bit more on that - we hardly mention it.
that we went the furthest in the play offs of the Champioship sides and will be aiming to go one better now we're more experienced.

If you want to sell anything you have to excite the customers and get them to feel like they want to be part of it.

So basically we need to highlight the positives and play down the negatives.

Someone really needs to let Steve Ferres know that

Yup, a bit like government manifestos - promise the earth, don't mention it might not all come off and [inever [/imention you might need to do the exact opposite.

If, in the end, it doesn't work out, you can always blame the other lot who haven't been in charge for ten years.....

Are we now getting to a position where Steve and Jimmy are looking like Dumb and Dumber?

Have to say I'm encouraged by jimmy's statement saying he, 'may' have made the odd error in his use of the squad, I mean, he might not actually [ido[/i anything differently next time round but clearly he is thinking about it...

Might as well bump this thread rather than making a new one.

Robbie revealed in his column today that we are 'around the 2500 mark' for season ticket sales. I'm going to take that as less than 2500, otherwise he would have worded it differently.
I'm not sure of exactly how many we ended up selling last year, somewhere between 3.5 and 4k maybe?

I guess they will be hoping to hit 3k this year before the start of the season, which is just under 3 weeks away.

We were asked at the fans forum whether we wanted a full time team and everyone there said YES. We need the support to carry through with this plan. I personally feel that if we went back to part time players, then we might as well shut up shop. We have got to believe in our coach and team otherwise nothing will happen, and the promise of a top rate team to challenge for SL will pale into insignificanse. Perhaps our fans will feel more positive when the season begins.

I don't think a question, thrown to, probably, the most committed 500 [or whatever fans, can ever be definitive for anything. When push comes to shove, it's the actual income that counts - and that figure will be led by attendances, whether via memberships or walk-ups. Hopefully, they'll remain around the 5K mark

For what it's worth, I think talk of, "shutting up shop", is ludicrous. If the club had to go part time, there is no reason to think it wouldn't survive as a part time club. Whether it could quickly bounce back from such a set back is a different question though, but 'survival', at some level, isn't an issue. I do feel that, in terms of our position within the game, this is a landmark season for us though - one way or the other.

I’ve not renewed yet but will be doing so I think there’ll be a few more to cough up yet.

As for continuing part time I don’t think that’s an option really at Odsal. Overheads are steep as it is. They’d be impossible in front of 1k of fans.

I think this year really is poop or bust unless Green finds someone to join the board who is happy to pump money in with no financial return.

With no special offers and the less than inspiring signings I feel a lot of people will wait to see what fayre they are being served up this season and will pick and choose their matches. Unfortunately this is the outcome when the first 20 odd matches are just warm ups for the middle 8s

If we want fully professional RL in the city someone has to pay for it and without a sugar daddy it will have to be the fans.

If people pick and choose then we'll have less money and the downward spiral continues.

Best keeping buying the euromillions tickets.

To be fair, my comments about part time were made on the assumption that a part time team would mean part time prices and general running overheads more, or less, in line with clubs like Batley. What you can't really overlook is the fact that Bradford, as a large city, is far bigger than the vast majority of suburb, small town and overgrown village teams which make up the bulk of the lower end of RL, so I'd hazard a figure of C 2.5K would be nearer the mark than your 1K average, which is pretty much what we see around this division.

Without checking, I'd guess my figure would be more in line with historical gates over 'the old days', not that I'm suggesting anything today equates quite [iexactly [/ito the sixties and seventies etc, it's a whole new world as we know....

Not sure about our "commercial rent" from the RFL. Maybe they would have to cut a deal since, without us as tenants, in monetary terms, their lease isn't worth the paper it's printed on. 'Course, going by what was said at the last forum, we [or Marc Green may even own the freehold by then, so maybe we'll just put [itheir[/i rent up to cover it......



Seriously hoping none of that ever has to be tried and tested, though!