Our current owner did not appear to have any previous connection with or knowledge of the game - he got the highly paid professional trio of managers: Lowes, RHP and Ferres to do the actual running of the club. I assume that is what a magical fans committee would also do - the real issue is could the happy fans stump up with readies to keep the club afloat year after year?

I'm baffled by this. In your example, what then would the role, or indeed point, of the fans committee be? How would it be cheaper, if they paid out the same salaries for the same key positions? I don't get it.

We'd be in National League 2 in Studd's world so costs would be cheaper for coaches at least albeit just as unaffordable.

None of it adds up. RL is an unsustainable business model at Bradford, whatever the level we play at. Cost will always exceed income.

I'm afraid my plans to win the Euromillions failed last night, so this is one fan that won't be buying the club.

If I won the euromillions I'd be planning on doing better things than running a RL club. I'd possibly sponsor the club in some way, but buy it? No chance, it wouldn't be worth the hassle!

Could be a long off-season for the Bulls with cash flow possibly being an issue especially if its a problem now.

Hope you lot sort something out as I want you to be a force in 2017.

I was assuming people were talking about ownership of the club, and how this is usually separate from the day to day running of the "business" and playing side. So from a operational standpoint if in this fans utopia the fans had taken over - then like other owners they would appoint managers, so not necessarily requiring time, effort or even knowledge ( though that clearly would be welcome) from themselves. So unless the fans committee had some altruistic members with the relevant skills which they were then willing to provide the club at no or little cost then you wouldn't make many savings in running costs.

The real issue is that 'ownership" of any professional RL club requires regular injections of cash and or personal guarantees from its owners and I think this is where the notion of trying to run a club in the higher leagues in RL (including league 1) by some sort of fans cooperative falls down.

It is not just RL but the majority of sports in the professional era where costs have mushroomed to the extent to which the sport at the higher levels have become whole dependent on getting a regular fix from either Sky (or equivalent TV deal) or some indulgent member of the super-rich elite.

www.loverugbyleague.com/_app/new ... ip-56.html "Money troubles Which Championship club is struggling financially and only paid 40% of their players wages last month? This club has promised to pay the rest it owes next month. And no, it is not Sheffield. And we hear Featherstone are throwing money around and making some attractive offers to players for next year. Fev had a good 2016, making the top four, and is determined to be in the Middle 8s next year by severely strengthening its squad."

www.loverugbyleague.com/_app/new ... ip-56.html "Money troubles Which Championship club is struggling financially and only paid 40% of their players wages last month? This club has promised to pay the rest it owes next month. And no, it is not Sheffield. And we hear Featherstone are throwing money around and making some attractive offers to players for next year. Fev had a good 2016, making the top four, and is determined to be in the Middle 8s next year by severely strengthening its squad."

That LoveRugbyLeague article is sensationalism. Either name and shame or keep your mouth shut.

Couldn't agree more. It really get on my Tits. Why do it.

It's been peddling the same story with a slight different spin all season.

If it is us, I really can't see it playing out well unless we get a major investor or someone buys the club. No offence to Green but he doesn't have the cash to pile in.

do they mean only 40% of the players got paid or they all got 40% of their wages? All rumours about us have involved late payments, rather than partial payments.

I think they mean every player got paid 40% of there wage

I agree but annoyingly they are normally right in the end!!

Well if they keep saying th same thing all the time, it will probably look to come true when something similar actually happens. I imagine that it isn't necessarily based upon inside information.

They do this with almost every one of these weekly articles, come out with some sensational claim but never back it up with facts or names. It's similar to what Gledhill does with his cryptic tweets, except he gets criticised for it and LRL get lauded.

One or two of the people behind the site also criticise other sites on Twitter for clickbait and yet they do exactly the same themselves. Total hypocrites.

As they dare not name any club, then it is just wash.

I heard on Sunday only 25 of the playing staff, no idea how manys still on the books, had been paid so maybe that's the 40%

Not if my maths is anything to go by.

We may have done some deals to release players early. At least I'd hope so since we had about 45 on the books this season.

Take Gaskell, if his hamstring needs treatment it'd make sense to have a word with Hudders and ask them to take him on early so they can choose who does the treatment and manage his recovery during the off season. Getting him off our wage bill early would certainly help. They'd also ensure they got him ready for pre season with them.

Are we expected to believe that either
players and/or staff have received less than half their salary
Or......less than half the players have been paid

In each of those scenarios I would have thought it pretty certain that :
someone in the squad would have broken the news
any reputable journalist would have published .. and named the club
The union would have been contacted ....and gone public
none of the recent signings would have signed a contract
No players agent would allow their client to consider a move to Odsal
some of the talented players would be sought by other clubs

And just possibly...... the RFL would have implemented a transfer embargo.

It might not be us...

We can't be the only club struggling. For example Fax finished outside the top 4 as well. They might have a smaller and cheaper squad but they also have smaller crowds and less income I expect.

These sort of rumours can probably be applied to at least one club in the championship every month.

I agree- but all my post applies to any club not just us.
And that is why I think the "story" is one of those where the source is a second cousin of a new friend who the author met the other day in a pub.

Then when you look at the list of released players Mick tweeted, some decent earners I would have thought.