...and yes, I guess I am actually having a pop at Provident.........

New kit will be made by BLK (RFL have got a deal in place with them already) So they have done a deal on this too.

Totally agree with FA on this.
Firstly, can anyone tell me when we had a better Sponsor than Provident? Their interactions with the Fans, the prizes they put up and their support with the Summer Bash (to list but a few) are unmatched in my opinion.
In these days of overblown Political Correctness, NO Tobacco/Breweries/Alcohol Companies etc. we take the high moral ground whilst overdoing it in the Pub and hoping for a massive Sponsorship deal from a gaming Company is the height of Hypocrisy.

Look at what happened the last time RL appointed a 'politically correct' company to sponsor the game. Stobart anyone?

Provident have been fantastic for the Bulls. And I do hope we can continue with them on the same or a slighly reduced deal than last time.

"Politically correct" is a term I hate.

It's a free country and if folk don't like the sponsor then that's up to them. It hardly qualifies to be lumped under such lazy terminology.

Personally I may have liked the money Provident put in but I was never comfortable with them being the main sponsor and didn't buy anything with their name on.

As it is beggars can't be choosers. Nobody has to be 100% for or against their sponsorship.

Not a fan of the PC term myself hence the PC in quote marks. PC breeds a society of 'do-gooders' and people who get offended way to easily in my opinion. Yes some people have issues with sponsors which is fair enough. I don't particularly like companies who take advantage of poor people like Wonga and other loan companies. However the flip side is, they help people out who are in need if the people use it right.

As for sponsorship. I'd take anyone at the moment to get a bit of cash into the club and helps us become financially stable.

Ok ...cards on the table here- my wife works for Provident.

Yes, the interest rates are high but many of their customers do not have a bank account, many still rely on a bloke collecting small amounts ever week.

Loads of customers and I do mean loads default on payment immediately and the loan is never paid back.

It is sad that a company like Provident has to exist, but they are ethical and they keep many people away from the real evil
b......s out there.

They have been the best, most supportive sponsor we have had and long may that continue.

Quite frankly with what we have done to local businesses I don't see we could claim any moral high ground. And with all the crap the club has been through they are the sponsors that have stood by us all the time.

I personally have never failed to pay any local business to which I have traded with. Never. So I can take moral high grounds on that basis if I wish.

Not that I do in this case. I can see the argument both ways to be honest on these types of businesses. But as a company, Provident have certainly done a lot more for Marc Green's version of the Bulls than I've seen a sponsor do for a long time.

OK, I meant we in terms of Bradford as a club, not us personally as supporters.

I remember Vision-On; Tony Hart and the sign language woman
....and now for the gallery......

I personally don't see an issue with Provident primarily due to the fact that they have been around for donkeys years, are a local business and actually put back into the community that supports it, hence the Bulls sponsorship. The likes of Wonga et al have given pay day lenders a bad name by quite frankly extracting the wee wee. Didn't Wonga sponsor Newcastle and one of their players refused to have it on his shirt? Maybe that's why Bullman/Bullboy taped over theirs!

I agree with a lot of what you have to say - however, Provident are themselves on the list of your usual suspects - they are a banking organisation (in the loosest sense). I agree that loan sharks are a far worse alternative, however the likes of Provident are part of the problem this country (and the world in general) faces. Credit Unions are a far better alternative to many of the people who rely on credit provided by such companies.

That being said, beggars can't be choosers. If Nestle or Exxon came along to offer of sponsorship then I'd have their hand off.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19748048 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY7eOq3Tfw

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19748048 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY7eOq3Tfw

Quote ="Bullseye"www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19748048 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY7eOq3Tfw'" And your point is?

Quote ="Bullseye"www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19748048 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY7eOq3Tfw'" And your point is?

They're not whiter than white. It's a type of business that can lead to abuses. I’m not about to get all holier than thou about it but nor am I going to say they’re brilliant.

I agree that if Nestle or Exxon came on board I’d be torn between liking the cash but not the way it’s made.

The response to my original post was that calling them unethical wasn't accurate but they links show they are questionable at times.

When it comes down to it, it's purely my point of view and Provident sponsorship doesn't sit well with my own view of the world or how people should be treated.

Call me a do-gooder, bleeding heart, lefty all you want. I won't change

I'm not sure that any business can't lead to abuses. Look at charity organisations for example, they are supposed to collect money to help the needy. They should be whiter than white but somehow many contrive to give only a fraction of their income to the people they claim to support.
I don't understand how Nestle and Exxon have been singled out as being some sort of pariah how are they any different from their competitors.

Provident have been good for the Bulls and their fans I for one hope they continue.

Well here's your homework, a short essay. Bullet points alone if you like:

Essay Title:
"[iEthical treatment of local people, businesses and HMRC in the last 5 years - my club Bradford Bulls -v- Provident - compare and contrast.[/i"

You might be a bleeding heart etc. but however much the incumbent Bradford club screws people over year after year, you manage to find justifications to ignore that and keep on supporting them and financing them, so maybe the flow of blood is a tad selective.

Life isn't black and white.

Indeed it isn't. Round here it's red amber and black

As you pointed out to the spewing fax fans, the club and company are not one and the same

.

Phew. Well that's OK then.

Or not, as it completely misses the point, which is Provident in the same period has never gone tits, and never screwed local businesses or the taxman out of 99p in the £

IMHO that's why the bulls name should have been dropped, it would have helped everyone to see that it is a new company,
new staff, new coach, new players, new owners...

Its hardly rocket science that its all new but very difficult for FAX, Huddersfield and Wakey fans to understand.

In the case of Fax fans though I think they would have been happier if there was no club in Bradford at all, no matter what the name.

So screwing over people is now acceptable then

Besides, you don't know their tax goings on, nor do you know if they do/don't screw over local businesses.

Anyway, at what point do we leave this rabbit hole and agree it's a pointless arguement? I won't change my stance... neither will you. Have a lovely day and lets hope we have a nice sunny, almost warm day on Sunday.