If there is a restructuring of all three leagues ,for the good of the game as a whole clearly spelt out, and as a by product we end up in the second tier amoungst some other moves then fine.

If however we are artificially kept up because it will help the rfl and other clubs coffers (again!) and because "we're the Bulls" then I'll be done. I'm not turning up next year if it's clear I've just wasted a whole seasons time/effort/money/disappointment on a preordained stich up. We're bottom, we should be relegated, but either way it needs a definitive statement from the rfl now, (should have been sooner) not in the offseason.

But on what legitimate basis? What sort of sporting body lets the clubs in a division decide whether a relegated club should be relegated, based purely on their own financial needs? It's like the clubs in Football League 1 deciding that Bradford City shouldn't get relegated to League 2 if they happen to finish bottom this season. It just wouldn't happen.

Or, to give a RL example, it would be like the Championship clubs refusing to admit Toronto to the Championship because they don't bring any way fans, or because they don't fancy a 6 hour plane trip to an away game.

It feels like the lunatics are taking over the asylum here.

This is 'me too'

If the league is restructured just to keep us up so that the lazy sods that run the likes of Swinton or Rochdale can rely on our away support to bolster their failing clubs, then I'm finished with Rugby League.

Hi Paul,

Why will we get steamrolled? No minus 12 this time (if we are granted a reprieve) longer time to assemble a squad, increased central funding (150k for bottom placed champs club vs 75k for relegated), larger away gates (just....) at Odsal

The fans will come, the hardcore is there, 3000 is realisitic if we are given a reprieve, if we go to the third tier then I fear 1500 would be the number

We have 18 competition points at present, so with a scratch team of kids and cast offs/loans/DR we would have survived without a points deductions.

Bold statement - if we stay on the champs next season, then I would be surprised if we don't make the middle 8's (if that comp still exists) certainly a top 4 team with some stability.

I've adjusted your comment for my take on it, but you're spot on.

It would all depend on how much time we had to assemble a squad and whether our esteemed owners had the where with all to recruit a decent head coach and a competitive team. The longer we wait in limbo the less chance there is of that happening. I even worry that the longer it's uncertain (if indeed it is and this isn't all just bollox) the harder it will be to get a promotion winning side together in C1.

However as has been pointed out this whole scenario seems ludicrous. To be kept up because other club owners are would be skint! I just can't see it happening. If it did fans of other clubs could go coco. I'd refer them to their own club chairman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03YryvSIXQ Some nice tries scored there. Caro's third was helped by possibly the worst tackling I've ever seen. Vila Halafifi? Did I hear that right? Think Brandan Wilkinson would do well to grow up and stop rubbing the hair of opponents to wind them up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03YryvSIXQ Some nice tries scored there. Caro's third was helped by possibly the worst tackling I've ever seen. Vila Halafifi? Did I hear that right? Think Brandan Wilkinson would do well to grow up and stop rubbing the hair of opponents to wind them up.

The thing is, we have no choice. We will be wherever we are put, same as this year. I have no firm information but was told by what I conside a pretty reliable source that there is a plan for a restructure, but it won't be announced in the middle of the season. It was basically to increase Championship by 2 teams but unlikely to be annonced till after the season ends so as not to render much of it pointless. But it was a plan of various chairmen - not the RFL.

How I'd feel about it is probably there's more chance of me buying a season ticket than there would be for C1 given we are seemingly in disarray with players mostly leaving not signing, and given the likelihood Toovey will get a better offer, and iven the severe lack of funds that to me doesn't augur well. But even if it did happen, the delay in any announcement will mean it will be pretty much too late for player purposes, like it was before the start of this season.

And either way we have the huge shadow of the Tribunal elephant in the room, which it is not too dramatic to say might sink us altogether, if it goes wrong, and if we literally do not have any money, and aren't looking for any 'investors'. Our "income" from C1 looks by all reports as being 75K. If we were ordered to pay 45 people 2 grand each then that's already gone. And thats even before we've paid our lawyers. But the point is, HOW can we even begin to budget and sign any players (if we have a budget) with the uncertainty of the Tribunal hanging over us? As given we've no dosh, every pennt woud be out of enxt year's budget? Happy days.

Surely they'll just sign everyone up to contracts now and let the administrator/next owner clear up the mess? You should know how it works by now FA

I agree with your comments, but if they do stay up because of a restructuring I will go to home games and not go to the away games to support other clubs that can't get the fans to stay alive.

That'd be quite funny if you were joking



But, given our Tribunal, next time we or anyone goes belly up, the queue for new takers will be even shorter methinks, who wants to risk liability for the last lot's contract payments? You'd have to be mad.

Putting the tribunal to one side (I don't think the newco has anything to worry about whereas Mr Green and the RFL could be in hot water) - this coming year the club will receive additional funding via season ticket sales and distribution from the RFL - both were missing last year and we put team out. The big question has to be the rent and upkeep - if that stays off our budget (as rumoured) then we can't we attract higher quality players? either in league 1 or the champs - we are still a big draw (puts on tin hat) and still produce excellent youngsters.

I wish I shared your confidence. I think the legal eagle on this is Richard Cramer, the Sports specialist on all things contractual. If he has named the Newco, I am worried. He seems one sharp cookie to me.

To be fair it's bloody annoying now. We should be down. Then again we should have been in League One this season. So it's all swings and roundabouts with the RFL. As long as we know before the season ends then to be quite honest I don't care. If it's decided either before or just after our last game then I'll be happy. That way we can prepare for next season and it would just be like our fate has been decided on the last day of the season.

I just hope the RFL dont play that silly game again of keeping us in this league for everyone else's benefit but slapping a silly points deduction caveat on us staying in this league "just to make it fair", and only telling everyone we are staying up AFTER our key players have gone - its like feckin groundhog day again!

I beg to differ. The legal costs of defending dozens of individual claims will be huge. If there were 40 claims and if the lawyers only spent a token 1 hour on each claim then that's roughly ten grand. Multiply that up, add counsels' fees for advices, conferences and the tribunal hearing itself and like I said before, that could easily take up the whole of our 75K distribution. And that's just if we WIN! Certainly a large slice of it. I'm worried.

Unfortunately have to agree. Plus Cranmer is one of the top Sports Lawyers around. If he has an angle there has to be something in it, thats the most worrying part. For me its quite obvious, we were penalised for the oldco misdemeanors, play at the same stadium, same colours same badge etc etc. As has been said if newco get dragged in this is one that should fall squarely at the feet of the RFL as its their stipulations that have put us where we are (going over old ground)

Indeed. If the new regime get dragged into it I'd say the RFL are culpable as it was them that were kingmakers. If I were big Nige I'd be sweating.

I think he sweats pretty much 24/7 anyway, but that's nothing to do with nerves.

We all thought that about Caisley though

I don't think any restructuring of Championship and D1 is just for the Bulls.
I expect SL will be changed in a couple of years possibly adding two more and they need the Championship to be as strong as possible to feed that plan.
I believe they want D1 to be a development league possibly losing some and merging others. I listened on the radio last weekend and they said one game got 65 fans. Does the RFL want the Bulls and its supporters in with that.
if I were the RFL I would also look at increasing the second tier by 2 or even 4 and losing Blackpool to allow it.
The championship could be a very good league with 6-8 teams that could be aiming for promotion. It could be a league worth watching - if only they would then televise it. Keighley back in would be good for a few teams.

In conclusion, I would increase SL by 2 and the Championship by 4 (3 extra games) to bring in more revenue. That means over the two leagues we need to take 6 clubs from division 1 into the Championship. That would leave a smaller development league and the 6 more established clubs move up.
That's why I won't be surprised if the RFL comes out with a statement in a couple of weeks starting with "We have been thinking about some changes for next season...............".

I'm not seeing the argument about not being able to assemble a decent squad for next season should we stay up.

The current squad is one that was "thrown" together at two weeks notice. It is also what was left of the previous squad once all the better players had been picked off. What makes you think that we could not assemble a better squad with 3 months notice?

Plus, the hybrid system in the Championship should have been one we embraced every since we got relegated. Anyone who has played lower league or amateur stuff knows there are far better players turning out in the Yorkshire Leagues than are currently on full time contracts in some Championship clubs and even lower end SL teams. Natural skill levels are far more important than how much you can lift or how long you spend at the training ground.

I'd happily take a place in the second tier after a restructure. I have no problems at all. The RFL and SL have shat on us enough times to say it would be payback.

SL money taken and "redistributed", minus 12pt deduction, Hull KR three times, no centralised funding, generous "donation" to Rugby League Cares fund???

Rest of the clubs could go whistle for me. If i believed we could survive L2 and have a shot at making it back to the top i'd say to go down just to make others suffer, but i'm not convinced.

Every club for themselves I say... roll on the re-structure!!!

If we're kept in the championship its a scandal. The RFL are the ones running the sport not the bloody clubs (otherwise you get the ridiculous situation of SL clubs not having acadmies and reserves) as others have said just because some clubs want a bit extra money, the rules everyone signed up for at the beginning of the season should be adhered. By the way the RFL really don't help repel the conspiracy theorists. Remember Johnny Campbell's red card for his dangerous tackle. Well my anger was because ive seen much worse than that, that weren't punished. Low and be hold an absolute shocker of a spear tackle occurs (Greg Bird) and the referee sends them to the sin bin!!! Simply not good enough! Its in the below video (1 min 26 i believe) www.catalansdragons.com/articles ... talans-s8/ Also remember Johnny Campbell was sent off so effectively missed one game, also had and EGP and got a 2 game ban. Bird didn't get sent off, wasn't able to take an EGP due to his poor record and only got 3. Johnny was sent off he technically missed 3 games. So the RFL think that Campbells and Birds are the same seriousness. I'll let you make your own minds up.

If we're kept in the championship its a scandal. The RFL are the ones running the sport not the bloody clubs (otherwise you get the ridiculous situation of SL clubs not having acadmies and reserves) as others have said just because some clubs want a bit extra money, the rules everyone signed up for at the beginning of the season should be adhered. By the way the RFL really don't help repel the conspiracy theorists. Remember Johnny Campbell's red card for his dangerous tackle. Well my anger was because ive seen much worse than that, that weren't punished. Low and be hold an absolute shocker of a spear tackle occurs (Greg Bird) and the referee sends them to the sin bin!!! Simply not good enough! Its in the below video (1 min 26 i believe) www.catalansdragons.com/articles ... talans-s8/ Also remember Johnny Campbell was sent off so effectively missed one game, also had and EGP and got a 2 game ban. Bird didn't get sent off, wasn't able to take an EGP due to his poor record and only got 3. Johnny was sent off he technically missed 3 games. So the RFL think that Campbells and Birds are the same seriousness. I'll let you make your own minds up.

Will we have 3 months notice though? I think people are seriously underestimating the implications of the impending employment tribunal in January...

If the costs involved are anything like FA suggested, then I don't see how we can possibly plan properly until after the outcome of that tribunal has been determined - that leaves us barely a month at best to know where we truly stand for next season in terms of available finances. I can't help but feel we're in for another headache of a Christmas and New Year again as we will be in limbo.

Agreed.
And theres no way I'm putting my nearest & dearest through the downs and lows of last Christmas - I spent more time trying to find out what was happening to the Bulls than I did talking to the family all through the festive break - and thats just wrong.