I think the proximity of the motorway network would be the biggest selling point for Odsal, particularly if you're looking at industrial/commercial use and even more so if direct access to the M606 was built. I'm not sure about the toxic waste. I'm not sure just where it lies and maybe no-one else does either which would be its biggest drawback, though with controlled tipping of known, non-toxic waste on top of the ground it would likely bury the problem beneath 50m metres of 'clean' waste. It's been there for years now so you'd think any leaching away would likely have ended. I suspect that test drills might ascertain that which could be much cheaper, and probably safer, than trying to dig it out- whatever and wherever it is.

There are still methane chimneys on the land behind the south bank.

Investment in commercial premises is at a real low at the moment, largely because of uncertainty. That's not going to change anytime soon.

There's an advert on the back of the t&a today for Christmas bookings in the southbank. This is accompanied by the Bulls logo so i presume it's the club that is promoting this. If the club vacate the site on Sept 30th then how will they honour the bookings ?

Not that I have ever thought there was a snowball's chance in hell of the Council ever making a new stadium happen - much less sor in these times of austerity and endless cuts to council income - I must say that it is hopelessly incorrect to suggest a new stadium would be being built "for 4000 people". The whole point of a new facility surely would be to design and build so it served the whole wider community.

Because of the Council's incompetence/ unwillingness/lack of cash/insert excuse here, we are probably the only major city where (unless you count Dunn's) no such facilities exist, and indeed in recent years the Council has been remorselessly closing facilities down. Queensbury Pool has just been added to that list.

And of course if you believe Brexit will happen then that even chokes off any vestigial chance of any form of EU funding, not that that has been free flowing these last decades.

Rather than give strings of reasons why it can't be done, the Council would surely be better leading a coalition to find a way to get it done, by whatever means. Whatever excuses and hurdles and dragged out, the fact remains that plenty of towns and cities across the UK actually HAVE found an assortment of ways to build new stadia. We are just unfortunate to live in one whose most notable accomplishment of late was to install a crater in the city centre for a decade and trash what little was left of the city as a venue anyone was interested in visiting. So the omens are not good.

The decomposition of the waste from the former tip is a process that takes centuries or longer. The chances of it being dug out again are also zero.

Might just be a huge administrative c0ck up

Maybe the people running the venue haven't been informed about what is going on?

Employees of a company didn't know what was happening, shock horror. It won't be a first.

Those were exactly my thoughts.

Maybe it's like invading Area 51. We have all the keys, and who would stop them?

Perhaps a man with a white beard and a red suit will be there to let them in through the chimney.

Latest from Chalmers.

No Deal Bexit' presents three alternatives under consideration, and these three alternatives each have a range of different scenarios.

Firstly, we have been successful in negotiating an economically viable option for relocation and occupancy at the Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury, thanks to owner and chairman Mark Sawyer.

This represents our fall-back position, if we are unable to achieve a viable deal within Bradford. I don’t envisage this would be a permanent arrangement, but would be part of a broader plan to develop our own facilities within a two to four-year period.

If we are forced to take this option it would be on the basis that we will ultimately return to Bradford. This option requires that we seek approval from the RFL for relocation, which we believe would be granted.

Secondly, we have had discussions with Julian Rhodes, CEO at the Bantams. Valley Parade presents quite a significant number of issues. On the plus side Valley Parade would meet the RFL’s minimum standards.



But the facts here are that the pitch will require a significant financial investment to enable it to be used for rugby league and football, and that the ballpark estimate for the pitch remediation ranges from £800k to £1.2m pounds.

Obviously the Bantams aren’t going to fund this, and their present lease at Valley Parade expires on June 30 2028, although they do have an option to extend for another 25 years.

Such a remediation programme could only commence at the end of the current playing season, so at the earliest it would only be an option from 2021 if implemented. So from a timing and cost perspective, Valley Parade appears a non-starter, especially once you factor in the estimated hire costs and match day costs.


Thirdly, we have been in discussions with Gareth Roberts, chairman and owner of Bradford Park Avenue, who are based at Horsfall Stadium.

In its current state Horsfall Stadium would require additional investment in order to accommodate the requirements of the Bulls. This would involve additional infrastructure incorporating covered seating, standing terracing and sufficient toilet facilities to accommodate the estimated crowd numbers.

We are in the middle of completing due diligence, which includes the cost of relocation and a cost for the additional infrastructure. We will keep everyone informed on this option.

I would certainly see Horsfall Stadium as only a short-term option, assuming it is economically viable. Fortunately, as we do with Dewsbury, we have an excellent relationship with the owner Gareth and our two clubs have worked together in the off-field and back office areas for the last 18 months.


This option also requires approval from the RFL for relocation, which we believe would be granted, providing the RFL’s minimum standards are met.

So there you have it. The latest straight from my laptop. Plenty to consider with realistic and viable alternatives being carefully evaluated by our management team and advisors.


Bear in mind that this process is all part of a journey to resolve the long term location of the Bradford Bulls, assuming a deal incorporating economic occupancy at Odsal cannot be reached.

Our focus is the long term economic sustainability of the club in Bradford of course. I am comfortable that our deadline of August 15 will be achievable for an announcement, and that a new dawn will be upon us.

John Kear said to me, the team was happy to play in a car park if that’s what it takes. I know we’ll solve this issue so no need to clear the cars from Morrisons!

Reading them articles from AC, sounds as if Dewsbury is the most likely of the three. I'm pleased to read that there's an estimate on return to Bradford, hopefully at the bottom end of that timeframe. If they would have said Dewsbury with no timeframe I would probably have packed it in, at least until they came back. However, I expect that if it is Dewsbury that we move to then it will be for the top end of the time frame.

Well at least that sounds like a proper plan, unlike Boris's!
Unfortunately for me, living in Haworth and frequently coming via Guiseley to pick up a family member, I doubt I'll be travelling to Dewsbury for every game so won't be getting a season ticket, which I was planning to do had they remained in Bradford. Impossible to please everyone which inevitably will have a negative effect on attendances. Will be interesting to see what the average gate will be.

I can't see that for all the questions there are now, there would be any solutions in the future, particularly should we move out of Bradford. Everything is down to Partnerships,Investment and the will on all sides to move the project forward.

I wonder if Chalmers is casting the net wide enough looking at potential options.

Somebody mentioned Guiseley which would surely be easier for most fans than Dewsbury.

I’m sure I remember reading in the past that Bingley RU is a 3k to 4K capacity too?

Says on Wiki that Wagon Lane is 4k capacity. Doubt very much that it will have the facilities for SL. However we are not in SL and Sheffield have played at a University Ground haven't they?

Yes they played at Sheffield Hallam SportsPark. A very nice venue for a university but not suited to a professional set up.

That said, their new venue isn't much better given they are still waiting on a supposed stand that goes with the football academy based there.

Wagon Lane isn't a bad shout but isn't one of the three options that have been presented by AC so doubt its a starter. That said, the ground isn't a bad little place, plenty of space down one side and behind the goals to develop (even if it were temporary).

Personally even though I live in Liversedge and Dewsbury would be the most convenient for me, I'd hate to be outside the Bradford city limits and would much prefer to travel the other side of town to play in Bingley or Guiseley.

I’m not sure how 4k would fit into Wagon Lane. Are we talking about 4k pygmies?

That press release is very vague indeed. Dewsbury sounds like the option that’s got the most certainty. I’d be happy to go there provided there was a cast iron plan to move back to Bradford within a year or two.

Swinton and Oldham had a hell of a time once they moved from their old homes and both clubs really struggled and had a nomadic existence. I would want to avoid those problems if we can. If Chalmers moves us to Dewsbury without any proper long term plan then I think that’s all I could take. I’d go and watch union.

Seeing as the club and owner is looking for fan opinions, thought it might be interesting to start up a quick poll and get some idea what the general consensus on here is.

If a deal cannot be done to play at Odsal under new terms, where would you like to see the Bulls play their home games next season?

I've provided options that have been sugested both by AC and posters here... whats your preferred choice?

As Bingley resident i can assure you Wagon Lane is is no way fit for Championship RL. The stand hold about 300/400 max while the rest of the crowd is stood at pitch level behind a guard rail barring a few on the steps outside the club house. There is no terracing and its extremely succeptable to mass flooding given its on the bank of the Aire

More chance of us playing on the Morrisons carpark that AC refers to in his article

Its quoted on the BBRU website they have capacity of 4k, but only seating for 250. Think it would need to be supplemented with some additional stands but not unthinkable that it couldn't be done.

Who knows, you could end up there anyway taking in a union game soon enough

It depends on the terms so I haven't chosen one sorry. How much is VP? Suggestions are that it would be as crippling as Odsal but if it wasn't I'd choose there. Horsfall would be my preferred option provided there was increased capacity and the rent was cheap.

Choosing between a move outside the city depends on if there's a proper plan to come back. If there isn't then I can't choose any of them , if there is then I choose Guiseley. Cougar Park isn't in Bradford and they already share with Silsden FC so that's a non starter.

As for Wagon Lane I know it well. It must be smaller than Horsfall!

As a former Bees player I can confirm that there's no way you could get 4k into Wagon Lane - well you could but most wouldn't be able to see anything.

As Bullmania says it floods regularly. I used to live nearby and it was always a worry.

Quote ="Bullseye"It depends on the terms so I haven't chosen one sorry. How much is VP? Suggestions are that it would be as crippling as Odsal but if it wasn't I'd choose there. Horsfall would be my preferred option provided there was increased capacity and the rent was cheap.'" AC answers many of those questions in todays T&A https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... -horsfall/

Quote ="Bullseye"It depends on the terms so I haven't chosen one sorry. How much is VP? Suggestions are that it would be as crippling as Odsal but if it wasn't I'd choose there. Horsfall would be my preferred option provided there was increased capacity and the rent was cheap.'" AC answers many of those questions in todays T&A https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... -horsfall/

To be fair Bullseye I don't think he could have put much more detail in. He's laid his cards on the table.

We've done a deal with Dewsbury but this is the last resort, but is the preferred option to staying at Odsal in the current circumstances.

Discussions have happened with City, but the money it would cost makes it a none starter.

Chalmers wants to stay in Bradford and discussions are in place with BPA.

Only thing vague is the plan to move back to Bradford if we do move out of area. Where would we move and what sort of infrastructure would it be. I hope the grand plan wouldn't be to move out of Bradford save money on rent to build a team to get back into SL which would see us return to Odsal loaded with SL money. That isn't a concrete plan.

I think out of the options, VP would be my preferred, but having read Chalmers article today about the costs, I think it has to be Horsfall.

I think moving out of the city would lose too many fans and who knows if they would return once (if) we’re back in Bradford.