BRADFORD BULLS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB ARE HOSTING AN OPEN FANS FORUM AT THE SOUTHBANK STAND ON WEDNESDAY 16TH OF AUGUST.
The forum will be held in the main event room of the Southbank stand, doors open at 6.30pm and expected to finish at 8.00pm.

Andrew Chalmers will address the loyal Bradford fans, then the floor will be opened up to questions.

The event will provide fans with an opportunity to discuss numerous matters relating to the club on and off the field.

Places are limited, we operate on a first come first serve basis.

Got to admit when I saw his response to Fr13ay in email, I actually thought that was the first time he had said we are looking to do a forum this month as opposed to just saying we will at somepoint. Glad they followed through

I have booked my place

I am soooo tempted to go; but I dont need a used car at the moment.

I genuinely hope I am wrong; I really want someone to give us some honest answers on the Bulls future whatever that may be.

But the pessimist in me (comes from being a life long Bradford fan) thinks this will just be yet another rallying call to get more fans to go to the remaining home games because AC needs more money to come in before the next Administration.

I fully expect several of the following quotes;
- there is a lot happening,
- this is an important transition period,
- an academy team is a priority,
- we need to show our support,
- we cant let the lads down,
- RL needs a strong Bradford club,
- blah, blah, bah

Seriously I hope I'm wrong; and I genuinely hope that those that do go to the forum get some straight answers (without the sales pitch) and can come away feeling reassured.

But until I actually see things happening - AC can talk as much as he wants -we all paid for a used car from Mr Green and it was never delivered - I'm not falling for that one again.

(If I do decide to turn up - it will be incognito)

I this for real? They usually send an email or at least put it on Facebook. They never learn about communication do they?

It is on facebook, twitter and the club website. Not sure they could have made it anymore clearly advertised.

If they had have just emailed season ticket holders, they'd have been accused of valuing them more than people who pay on the gate.

Indeed. Catch22 im afraid. Everyone wants more communication, but Green was brilliant at communicating amd looked how that turned out. I never went to the Green forums, but they sounded fantastic and basically everything as a fan we wanted to hear, was said. So we could come away having heard everything we want to, but then don't believe a word he says because we've been burned so many times. We need answers on the squad (e.g. despite being in L1, will Hallas, Tonga, Gibson still be with us) are we FT, PT, or both.

One thing from the press release was that they will be questions from the fans, so we can put AC on the spot again. Did Green forums offer questions or was it just him spouting lies to us?

One thing i don't think will ever happen is us going into admin with AC (famous last words) The RFLs heads are on the line and hopefully they will ne monitoring us like a hawk this time. But we may not have much ambition or funds to move forward

If Toovey's outragous blurb in today's T&A is a precurser to the content to be expected from the meeting then it will be another load of naive Bulls-hit.

If people are fearful of another sales job, why not attend and call it out? I'm going and I've got some very awkward questions

Is it an hour and half long? I can see everyone been there a bit longer!!!

Is it worth us getting our heads together to decide on some questions? I'm more than happy to ask a few. Are others?

Here's some I've come up with:

Questions for Chalmers

• After the worst season in over 50 years and relegation to the bottom tier of the game is there any reason for optimism?
• What contribution – financial or otherwise - does Graham Lowe make towards the running of the club
• Do you take a salary from club income?
• Why did you come halfway around the world to run this club?
• Who at the club is responsible for marketing?
• If in 2018 the first team is to be a mix of full time and part timer players what’s the estimated percentage split you are planning for?
• Is the club prepared to spend the money required to attract the best part time talent?
• Can you guarantee the club will continue to run a tier one academy that includes U16s and U19s teams while you are in charge?
• With regard to Odsal are you aware of any plans for the redevelopment of the stadium?
• Is the club likely to move home during the next 3 years?
• Successive regimes have failed to make ends meet resulting in administration and liquidation. What makes you think you will do any better?
• Why are club press releases full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors?
• Do the club get income from food and drink sales in the ground? If so why are club bars allowed to run out of food and drink regularly?
• Why does the club not have an online shop?
• Why does the club not post its shop opening hours on its website?

Questions for Toovey if he’s there…

• Are you staying on as head coach in 2018?
• If some players are part time and others full time how will you ensure training is coordinated so that the team isn’t training with players missing?
• Will we using the dual registration system with a Super League club in 2018? If so who?
• How much will we be using the player loan system in 2018?
• In 2017 you didn’t know who was available one week to the next and performances suffered as a result. If we do use dual reg/loans how will you improve the integration of loan players and dual reg players into the squad to ensure the team plays with more harmony?
• This year the team has been bullied repeatedly on the field, particularly in the forwards. Can you confirm that you will be addressing this weakness in recruitment for 2018?

What was all that bullsheet regarding the away shirt?

Either 1) It was always the intention for the shirt to be different to the one marketed, and you lied to us all while marketing the pre-sales, or 2) It turned up wrong and you lied to us all when you said it was always intended to be that one.

Which specific lie was it and how exactly do you expect intelligent fans to trust you when you are quite clearly feeding them these kind of lies?


(I don't expect this to be asked or answered, I'd just be quite interested to see them squirm over it)

Suggest you rock up and ask that one yourself

Good questions Bullseye. I know some people are racked off and i don't blame them. But now is the time to put your frustrations to the club. This will be the end of the Bulls, or the beginning of the rebuild. If we keep the hardcore fans on board and start winning a few games and maybe earn promotion, for the first time in about 10 years we will start moving forward as a club rather than rock bottom, to even more rock bottom. If we let them know our feelings then they have to act. If not it's the end of the club.

Mine are more requests than Questions. I can't make it but if someone fancies asking them



[uCan they be some sort of fan representation on the board[/u. Not the administrator from Bulls SG Facebook page. But maybe someone from Bullbuilder? I know they haven't been keen to to get involved in the past. But a member of them would be someone i would trust. They can put ideas forward for basic suggestions, like spelling media releases correctly, how to interact with the fans more. Put fans frustrations to the club. Check the accounts



[uThe media guy[/u I would suggest he will be at the forum yesterday and i would imagine he will be quite young, maybe i'm too soft but i wouldn't want to cause him huge embarrassment in front of hundreds of people. But yesterday on twitter was a farce with the referee almost been abused by the official twitter account. Bradford don't earn a penalty every set and the opposition aren't gifted a penalty every set. It needs changing. Seriously give to to a fan and they would happily do it for free i'm sure.

[uFan interaction[/u Doesn't have to be forums every month. But maybe at the beginning of the season, mid-way and at the end would do. I know others weren't a fan, but the fans focus group i personally thought was a great idea. It's a better way to get fans thoughts and frustrations across to the board.

Anyone else going off here apart from me, Ricky and Frank?

I'll be there with my dad I think.

I've ordered tickets so planning to go barring any last minute work commitments. It's make or break for me. If I leave Odsal on Wed feeling like I've wasted my evening listening to a load of spin it will more than likely be my last visit to Odsal for the foreseeable future.

Will keep a look out for you both.

Will be interested if anyone asks since the club will be playing in a lower division against even lesser teams than this year, can we expect the gate prices to drop to reflect that? And season ticket prices too?

I fully expect an avoidance answer of not knowing the structure and how many home games there are yet because of the potential for teams dropping out, so I could understand not knowing season ticket prices, but the gate price I would be amazed if it hasn't been discussed. Actually, I take that back, I wouldn't be amazed. As that would suggest some kind of forward planning.

All great Q's Bullseye, some to add, I don't mind who asks them...

[uFor Chalmers;[/u

You provided a business plan and financial guarantees to the RFL to acquire the club, whilst it may well have evolved in the past few months are you prepared to share the broad details of the plan (including assumptions regarding on-field success) and the levels of funding guarantees provided?

There are rumours of third party funding assistance from Salford's owner - if true, was the assistance a short term bridging facility or is it a longer term arrangement, and how worried should we be about its continuation or otherwise in terms of the clubs ongoing liquidity?

Which individuals actually own the Bradford Bulls, noting that Lowe only became a Director of Orcas Rugby League on 24/12/2016 was that for the sole purpose of acquiring the Bulls?

What is your continuing role and responsibility in the other 14 companies that register you as a Director; [iChalmers Tennessee Trustee Limited | Cyanz Technologies Limited | Forestry Management & Assets Limited | Fourfourone Properties Limited | Fourfourone Trustees Limited | Harvest Planning Properties Limited | Harvestpro Limited | Lowie Institute Limited | The Orcas Rugby League Limited | Pounamu Forestry Asset Management Limited | Pounamu Property Investments Limited | Pounamu International Limited | Pounamu NZ Limited | Pounamu Forestry International Limited | Pounamu Forestry Asset Leasing Limited[/i

Who owns the SouthBank facility?

Regardless of full time, part time or a hybrid, are you prepared to publish a list of retained and signed players for next year - immediately after the last game of the season?

In addition to a Tier 1 academy, there has been mention of a reserve team next year - is this still a serious commitment?

What can fans do to help, other than keep throwing money at the club, as that isn't sustainable?

[uFor Toovey;[/u

Will you be here in 2018, if so why?

Often this year, part-time teams have looked fitter and stronger than our full-time players, discounting the academy youngsters still developing - how do you account for this?

How will you overcome your relative lack of experience in British Rugby League and in particular the lower leagues?

You are quoted as suggesting that we should treat next year as a 1 year diversion on the route back to success - what do you see as the most critical requirements in terms of playing and backroom staff for next years promotion challenge?

Same. I've ordered a ticket and at the moment I'm intending to go

But if I walk away feeling like I've been fobbed off then I'm walking away for the foreseeable

I'm thinking along the same lines but will probably still go to U19s games for a rugby fix.

Useful place to watch future stars of other teams begin

I'm planning to go but don't expect it's going to be a pleasant experience for either side of the table. I think it's going to be a no win situation for Chalmers as if he puts up a positive aspect he will be criticised for spinning it, if negative then he's not taking it serious.

On other hand there are questions that I think do need asking.

For me, the fan representation one is interesting but there are a lot of big voices who seem to have support around them. My fear would be that no single voice can represent all the fans.

Instead I would prefer too see an official supporters group established. I'm fed up of the mob on Facebook claiming to be the voice of the fans. Sorry but they are not and I find it really annoying they get the attention and ability to speak publicly as they do. An official group would sideline them.

Agree an official group would have more credibility. Anyone can sign up to a Facebook group. But I doubt that any kind of fan rep on the board is realistic. You'd have to be mad to take that role on.

I think Chalmers can win over the room if he's honest and avoids the management bull that he's unfortunately prone to. You'll never please everyone but I still believe it wouldn't take that much to turn things around. He'd obviously have to follow through the words with actions.

It may be worth pointing out that far from being a one year diversion it is closer to 12 year diversion.