Following quote taken from t'other site is a little worrying. Could this be a pre-cursor to stripping away our academy if we remain outside SL?. that really would be final nail in coffin IMO.

Just re-reading Widnes's statement, and a part I missed while skimming through it is this

"Current Academy licenses across the sport are due to expire at the end of 2021, and it has been indicated that Super League membership and the ability to draw players from non-heartland areas will be integral to successful reapplication."

Suerly to god the sport isn't thick enough to not grant us an academy license because we're not in SL.

Already asked this been told we are keeping ours

Well, as we know, the RFL aren't above ignoring their own rules, as and when. It's a wonder they aren't in government...

SL denied Fev running an academy a lot of years ago

Really?! That's bonkers. Any progressive club has to harness the production line of young lads. How.can SL. dictate what we do at our level?

The funding ultimately comes from the SL tv contract. It’s matched funding, up to £100k max.
I think at the moment the money goes to the RFL as part of their 20-25% and is then given back to clubs with academies. The new TV contract changes things obviously.
I don’t know how the voting works . London & Newcastle academies must get a bonus due to geography. I assume that went against Fev at the time. Maybe Widnes got tipped off the same would happen to them.
I can only assume Bradford get to continue due to results, infrastructure and population and junior club density.

It’s about money, any team with an academy was/is paid 100k for doing so. And SL don’t want to give that to the second tier since they might find a player that SL have miss (like Zak Hardaker).

I assume that Bradford have managed around it these last few years by bringing in “non heartland” players, which would apply to London, Newcastle & Toulouse, otherwise I’m sure that other off our forum brothers would be shouting about Bradford bias again.

We get a mix of local lads and 'offf-cummed-uns.

Personally, I think being in the second tier can be sold as an advantage to the young players as they have a far bigger chance of breaking into first team open age at a Championship club than in SL. Whilst history no doubt plays some part in the club's attraction, I'd guess most kids would take advice about where to sign junior forms and the success level of our academy speaks volumes, to be honest, you need only look to SL rosters and the England squad to see that. As a championship club we play above our weight in the academy.

Doesn't really matter as anyone half decent gets immediately snapped up by a SL club regardless of which academy they play for.

Indeed.

You could say that anyone with real ambition wouldn't sign with a Championship outfit anyway if that option were never on the table?

Anyone playing for Bradford academy will have an inbuilt safety net that even if Huddersfield don't eventually sign them, they can always play for Bradford.

I wonder what plans are being made for the season being delayed again? The situation will be unchanged for some months at least. Can see a game without fans until mid summer at least too.

LOL, those were the days when other clubs only took the one's which (at the time) didn't 'fit into our plans' - and a few of those turned into internationals. Ryan Atkins, Brett Ferres et al.

Fixture congestion due to a late start may mean we have to play at the same time as Stock Cars. What a rush that would be.

Has anybody heard of any potential signings or friendlies?

https://bullssquadbooster.co.uk/ Anyone interested in joining?

https://bullssquadbooster.co.uk/ Anyone interested in joining?

Would imagine squad is pretty much complete as it stands TBH. Any Friendlies would almost certainly be behind closed doors and purely to get players some match fitness. Not sure if we would have any as main reason clubs have them is to get some gate money in

Suspect most clubs will treat the first round of league followed by two cup rounds as their Friendlies this year. Hopefully we get an easier first game and first cup game..... here comes Toulouse in league and Fev in cup

On the playing front I saw that Leigh have released Ryan Shaw on loan to a championship club.

Maybe worth a shot again and decent goalkicker

I already pay into BullBuilder monthly. Not in a position to pay into another scheme but no harm if others want to bring in further funds I guess. Seems quite a few clubs have similar setups.

I thought it was very telling that the RFL have already announced that the 2021 league tables will again be decided by percentages rather than points...

Yes agree very telling that they expect it not to be smooth sailing with games potentially off. That combined with the streaming of games makes me think supporters won’t be back in stadiums in tile for the season to start. Could we get to mid season before getting in?

On another point, would we need a safety certificate for odsal if no supporters are allowed in to watch due to Covid? If the pitch and team areas are spruced up is that enough to allow games to take place without supporters?

Has signed for Barrow in League 1.

I would still go for Jarrod Samut.