Stadium-related issues account for four of the ten licensing criteria points:

1. Capacity of 12k+
2. Average crowd 10k+
3. Ground over 40% full
4. Premier standard ground.

Bulls obviously lose a point for 4, but pass the rest. And will continue to do so provided fans continue to turn up (we need about 10.5k-11k average to be safe under point 3).

I raise this because a lot of fekkwits across the MBS talk a load of garbage about how licensing seems to be all about the grounds, under the present criteria. You clearly appreciate otherwise, and are referring more to what might happen in the future if the criteria become more stadium-weighted.

To be honest, regardless of licensing - if we don't get the OSV, or something very similar, then I cannot see the Bulls still being around - at least at SL level. Nothing to do with licensing; everything to do with money.

We have been prevented from developing the ground with a commercial partner (don't even go there...trust me!) and lack the resources to do more than basic care and maintenance on the ground as it is. We cannot move anyway without having to pay a 7-figure penalty to the Council that is far beyond our means. Unless a Whelan or Lenaghan or Moran or Caddick or Davy or McManus or Wilkinson or whatever comes knocking, we'll not be able to compete. IMO its the OSV or a very uncertain future, unless the Council (in a re-run of 2002) forces us down to Valley Parade and waives the penalty to engineer it.

The problem here is that I suspect it is all or nothing. If we struggle to make it at SL level, with Sky money and (relatively) high crowds I can't see any way that we could survive at Odsal at all in any lower league.


See above. Though it may not go down well in Keighley, it seems to me (under those circumstances) that there would be a strong possibility that the Council wouldn't be able to enforce the penalty (i.e. if the club were to be bankrupt). Indeed, if caught between the Scylla of unsustainable costs at Odsal and the Charybdis of the penalty clause, it might be politically and even financially preferable for the Council to waive some or all of the penalty to allow us to continue in existence - at VP.

Though, of course, we are talking about Bradford Council...

Quite. If we're still at an undeveloped Odsal then the club wouldn't survive in the NLs.



If the OSV fails to come off I expect this outcome.




Good point, anything could happen!



Great word! Never heard that before.

I really don't want to go back to VP. I don't mind sharing with City, but I just hate VP, and it's location.

If OSV falls through and we want to watch RL in Bradford VP may be our only option.

Given the choice between the Bulls at VP and no Bulls at all it's an easy choice.

However let's not be premature, the OSV is still firmly on the agenda.

I was going to say "between a rock and a hard place", but the other version is way classier!

For the avoidance of doubt, IMO:

1. If we have to remain at Odsal, as is, with no OSV, we won't survive. As MDF says. My comment "...at least at SL level" was speculating that a new phoenix club would arise at a lower level like Oldham, or Gateshead and playing somewhere else. Sorry should have made this clear.

2. If the OSV does not go ahead, then I would indeed expect the Council to agree to waive the exit penalty provided we moved to VP. That way, they get the site back and can redevelop the freehold, and City are effectively bailed out through a new income stream. Everyone wins, except the Bulls who would at least get to survive.

Bit of Greek mythology creeping in there! Pair of sea monsters living either side of a narrow strait, so you could not avoid one without getting caught by the other, IIRC? I don't know enough to be able to say whether some ancient hero found a solution to this ancient rock-and-hard-place dilemma - anyone know - and any lessons for us now? Hell, we need all the help we can get!

It was Jason.

We need Mr. Crookes back as quickly as possible.

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13815[/url When's our next news due?

19th March 2004.

T-t-t there must be some mistake.

Anyone hear this? www.bcst.co.uk/?q=node/1525 Or indeed hear anything, anything at all about this? Did it even take place? www.bcst.co.uk/?q=node/1510

Anyone hear this? www.bcst.co.uk/?q=node/1525 Or indeed hear anything, anything at all about this? Did it even take place? www.bcst.co.uk/?q=node/1510

Any of this left over ?
[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8021160.stmbbc[/url

i thought that 10m of that had been set aside for OSV

Quote ="MQBlank"i thought that 10m of that had been set aside for OSV'" Indeed - upto 15m www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... 2_5__rise/

Quote ="MQBlank"i thought that 10m of that had been set aside for OSV'" Indeed - upto 15m www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... 2_5__rise/

Will the pull in HE funding impact our plans? www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... m_college_

Will the pull in HE funding impact our plans? www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... m_college_

O/T a bit, but a real compare and contrast article here. The fact that (most of) the others invest into general public facilities whereas Bradford Council gives £33k to each council ward really does typify everything that is wrong with the institution and its inability to coordinate anything centrally with a view to the future.

Why didn't they just go the whole hog and send every individual in the Bradford Met a £30 cheque and absolutely ensure beyond doubt that nothing significant comes of it? The fear of being criticised, offending people or just not being seen to do something that is unarguably 'fair' cripples this city so we always end up catering to the lowest common denominator.

(to any Cougars/City fans, not saying that it sould be OSV, just something, anything, that is a little bigger or else to be proud of.)

Methinks you kinda got it one there buddy.

From todays League Express

Bradford Council Leaders will be asked at their mrring in June to Make a decision on which Version of the new Bradford Sports Village scheme they are going to give their backing to.

Hood says "The feasibiltiy study has been compleated , and it will be delivered imminently to the council, I havent seent he complete document, but there is no reason to suppose it isnt entirely positive. There will be a meeting of the BCEC in June to decide which version of the scheme they would want to adopt. we had slipped a few weeks, but we are now back on track."

That makes my blood boil. How much use am I going to get out of that?

You mean MY council tax is paying for the unhealthy of Keighley?

Yeah,but think of the trickle down benefits for the whole district...blah do blah, etc and so on.....

Typical!! Trying to justify the unjustifiable...............

That's certainly a worry - just what precisely IS going to "trickle down" out of that health centre into the whole district? Will the river Aire be a no-go area now? The public needs to be told...