First things first, I'm sorry this is in another thread, but it needs it's own for the sake of the attention it should recieve.

Clearly, we are all in shock about the news this morning. The fact we are so close to extinction and losing the club we all love rings true to our hearts, and thanks to the ineptitude, lies and mis-management from certain people, our club is close to hitting the wall.

Mr Hood's 'idea' of us all contributing £100 to feed the black hole is quite frankly, an appalling one. I've seen plenty of reasoned responses from established posters on here that back that up. Why should the fans give £100 of their own money with no guarantee where it's going, or with any return from it?

So, here is mine (and Mick Gledhill's) idea.

I have seen posts suggesting BullBuilder get involved, which is a constructive one, but I would be prepared to suggest that goes against BullBuilder's remit, does it not? So, if not BullBuilder, a new fund/trust/entity should be formed, namely the "Save Our Bulls" foundation. There will undoubtedly be 99% of fans willing to give money to the club. But as fans, we should be entitled to know where it is going, and what is happening instead of being lied to time and time again. If an independent committee could be formed, I refer you all to a post I saw earlier in the main thread:



This is THE idea we should all be pursuing. Do we really want more lies, more covering up and the same board going through all this again? There HAS to be change. It is on this basis that I propose a meeting, next Monday evening (2nd April), with everybody welcome, along with their ideas. If there is subsequent interest, I will endeavour to arrange a venue in due course.

Please. I know we cannot lose our club, but we cannot allow this situation to happen again. Let US, the fans, the ones who love this club to the ground, have a say in the running of our club.

Thank you for your time in reading it.
Aaron.

I'm willing to jump on board with this.

I had an idea of setting up a fundraiser account and paying it to Bulls via Bullbuilder on the condition that Hood goes.

This is a better idea though

I'm more than happy for BullBuilder to run with this idea, my instant reaction like I say, was does it go with their remit? Chris? Adey? Perhaps you could clear that up.

Or perhaps an independent, stand-alone trust is the way to go.

Whichever way it goes, I'll give as much money as possible and all the time I have.

It's our club, we won't let it die without a fight.

It might have to wait until Bullbuilder meets to discuss what they can/can't do

If it is that urgent and the club needs the money by the 6th, maybe we should pledge and fundraise, then look at was to get the club properly back on track?

Yes, it's a good idea.

Bullbuilder seems quite close to the club (and with their stated aims probably have to be). For me a separate, independent, entity is the only credible way forward.

Not a loaded question, more an observation, but if by some miracle they got the money, would Bullbuilder (assuming ready willing and able) be even invited? I mean, debt cleared, why would they?

NO they wouldn't. The fans need some sort of representation on the board after this latest shambles, either fully or partly. This way, it can be acheived. And, lets face it, if the worst happened and we did go bust, would a fan-run club be a catastrophic idea with the fanbase and facilities at our disposal?

Wasn't thinking about bullbuilder, rather a group of supporters putting pressure on the current board.

We all know the problems he caused, but surely I wouldn't be alone in thinking Caisley could get us out of this mess looking better than with Hood at the helm?

Just moments ago I had confirmation of a £2,500 donation to the Supporters Trust.

I can get hold of a room in Field House (Bradford Royal Infirmary) next Monday for the proposed meeting.

Unfortunately I don't agree with a Hood out campaign. So we must knock this on the head straight away.

We as supporters need to be dignified and unified in this most pressing of battles.

I'd love for an independent body, with a constituted decision making process etc, try raise approx £500k and then go to the Bulls and take a stake in the club / representation on the board.

Have there been any successful supporter takeovers in UK sport? The only two I can think of are Stockport County (

) and Ebbsfleet

- not the best examples, maybe Lincoln City too.

I just think that the timescales won't allow for such a thing to happen. In two minds about giving some money to the Bulls as things are. I could afford to give £100 or so, but not sure I'd want to see £100 disappear into one big black hole.

If not, then perhaps we should be prepared to start again from a fresh. Unthinkable I know, but it is viable.

A Bradford Northern starting out in Championship 1 run by people the supporters can have faith in the intentions of, and confidence in, sounds far more preferable than a "saved" Bradford Bulls limping along from problem to problem and bail out to bail out year in, year out.

However I only think the first option should be considered after the current club/business goes into administration if there are no takers to try and take the club forward.

I'd come to a meeting on Monday if there is one.

We have an emergency Bullbuilder board meeting tomorrow evening. We need to have that meeting before we can say anything further.

Remember that the Bullbuilder board members are all unpaid volunteers, and are busy people with day (and in some cases half the night as well

) jobs. I'd bear that in mind when suggesting the Bullbuilder should take some action.

IF people are keen on the idea of seeking to do something through a supporters trust, then IMO it would be totally insane to try and set up a new vehicle for that purpose. It takes months, and a load of hassle - been there, done that - and go ask Wakey: they had exactly the same issue. Bullbuilder's constitution DOES allow it to act in the required capacity. But whether Bullbuilder SHOULD take on any such role is, in the first instance, a matter for the BB board and the BB membership. Tomorrow's meeting will doubtless consider all the representations made.

In all this, I am speaking in a purely personal capacity, and not officially on behalf of Bullbuilder.

I agreed yours is a better idea mate.

I'll do everything in my power to help the Bulls whether its directly through the club, through Bullbuilder or through a new group.

None of us have a bottomless pot of cash, or wed have given it to the club already. Giving now and worrying about the future later is exactly the reason we are in this mess. I could pledge, but not afford to give again for a fair while. I'd love to see a new, fan based club, and would support it with my time and some money, but not if the current board are involved. This is 2012 - judgement time!!! We cannot get this wrong!!!! A new club along the lines of FC UNited could be the only long term , sustaniable option!

Is it not a bit too late to be trying to set up a supporters trust now? we need this money by the 6th April, so it seems a bit late in the day to have an initial meeting on Monday?

I could get behind Bullbuilder doing something if they decide to do so after tomorrows meeting, though.

There isn't a cat in hells chance of 500k being raised from "normal" fans in 11 days, unless there is something in the way of a big investment already lined up which, given the way this "pledge" appeal seems to be being marketed wouldn't come as a complete surprise.

For me there needs to be some action taken towards securing a longer term future for Bradford RL which an independent body of people has to take up.

working through the existing supporters trust would seem to me, as an outsider, a good middle ground proposition. They could hold on to funds raised/pledged and then use this bargaining power to negotiate with the existing board. Should they receive acceptable answers and assurances they could then pass on the money, perhaps in exchange for shares, otherwise the money would become a war chest for a future new club.
Also could the Leeds fixture be arranged at a time when no other games are on and encourage RL fans to make a donation for a ticket. What's the official capacity at Odsal these days?
Good luck with it all.

Mick .I am thinking of making a donation.If you can fill me in with everything ,and the plans.you if you pm me on here or FB I will give you my adress and phone number.Best wishes Eddie

Well, Asims post re: a Northern club run by the fans is an extremely attractive one to me. But naturally, if the club can survive (and NOT have a repeat of this again) that would obviously be the preferred route.

Good to know BullBuilder could get involved though.

The meeting is still intended to go ahead Monday.

You should try and get the 24k that attended Bulls Leeds in 1999 to pay £20 each to watch the game on good friday, that would solve a lot.

Would it really grate on your passholders to pay another £20?

Just an idea like...