continuing to point at other clubs will not detract or distract us from the topic under discussion. HTH



Bradford Bulls, with a perfectly acceptable seasons average of 8,500 managed to find themselves absolutely in the ter by August 2013....12 months after OK rode in on his white Charger and 18 months after the RFL played musical chairs with loans, cash advances and ground leases and let's not forget the all important half a million bucket shake!

In August 2013 OK apparently injected either cash, or access to cash worth 900k.....but not 4 months later, there is no money available and 2014 will be run on a shoestring, but still, rather than do the decent thing and cut their cloth accordingly, they are looking for ways to have their cake and eat it.

I suspect that 400k is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shortfalls in funding for the coming season....they started 2013 with a clean bill of health yet were close to 7 figures in a whole 6 months later and with no change in attitude other than making hard working club staff redundant rather than shedding players, I can see little change in the prognosis for 2015 and beyond!

Not surprised that sponsors are still on board though.....Bradford Bulls haven't had these column inches for close to 8 years now

How is what I said a defence of "they did it first"? You said there's favouritism towards Bradford, I asked you to proved evidence to back this up. You haven't, instead prefer to go down the personal attack rather than back up your comments, in typical troll fashion.



So, another club who had similar problems to Bradford and who WERE shown favouritism from the RFL aren't relevant to this? Really? No, you don't care about that as it undermines any point you're trying to make about Bradford getting preferential treatment. But again, you go about favouritism to Bradford and yet consistently ignore requests to justify this. As for the leasehold on a prime piece of real estate on the end of the M62? Yeah, the RFL will have a real problem shifting it if the Bulls fold entirely.





Ah, so London, another SL club for whom the words "preferential treatment" could be applied, getting money of the RFL has no baring on Bradford getting money off the RFL. No, I can see why you'd want to ignore that as again, it weakens your trolling, I mean argument.

As for Wakefield, they sold players, yes. Bradford are very naughty for not selling any players. I mean they could get money for players like Whitehead and Bateman if they sold them to other SL clubs. Oh wait, they did. And I believe Wakefield too had collections when they were in financial trouble.



Now, you're actually saying something I agree with. SL clubs ARE run appallingly, which is another reason Bradford have been put behind the 8 ball in terms of central funding as other clubs were more than willing to divvy up Bradford's share of Sky money. But then you go on to argue against one of your own points, saying the RFL as the Bulls landlord take more attention in how Bradford is run, not that there's anything to justify or even back up that point, other than the RFL steeping in to mediate between the BOD and the chief shareholder as they clearly do not want their plans for the 2014 SL thrown into chaos by a club self-destructing.



Right, so you say Bradford should cut their cloth accordingly, but then think that mocking them for then doing that isn't trolling?

Odsal is a dump and a massive drain on the clubs resources. It gets used barely 20 times a year but needs constant upkeep to keep it in a state fit for purpose. Last year, for example there was the best part of 2 months where the Bulls had no home game, therefore no real income. But you feel that a club that then tries to improve it's income streams by staging things like concerts and getting some use out of the stadium that's burning up the clubs money is a BAD thing? Really?

Yes, I'll admit that the concert put on wasn't successful, but to slag the club off for even trying it? That's just foolish.

But anyway, lets see if we can't check off your points

Bradford have gotten, in your opinion, favourable treatment from the RFL, but you refuse to acknowledge or even discuss OTHER clubs, including your own, who have clearly been given just if not more favourable treatment.

Bradford get money off the RFL, but you refuse to acknowledge or even discuss OTHER clubs, including your own, who have or might likely be getting money off the RFL.

Bradford should cut their cloth accordingly and should be forced to sell players, ignoring facts again there as Bradford HAVE sold players, who are arguably two of their best home grown prospects. You also mock the club for attempting to improve it's income streams.

I think that about covers your bias and willfully ignorant points.

Yeah, me pointing at other clubs as you put it, is what we call providing evidence to back up an argument. You know?

My point was that Bradford are not the only club to receive loans from the RFL, Starbug refuted that point and I pointed out that Rochdale had received what for them would be a large loan from the RFL.

Yes...let's. And remember, this is a thread about Nigel Wood and the Bulls.


No. I said that what had happened to other clubs was irrelevant in the context of this thread. Bradford have had loans, advances and a ground leased and rented back to them for a peppercorn figure and inside 12 months of this happening still came up close to 7 figures short. Not sure of how many times these other clubs you allude to have had to come back for more "assistance" but I am pretty sure it's not an annual occurrence!


Firstly, I said I have suspicions about London. Like the other suspicions I have heard thrown about over the years, these are unfounded (at the time of typing they are nearly not) but they are at the moment, suspicions. Wales and the other clubs were loans that are/were not dependant on the loanee remaining in Superleague so as to not leave the RFL with a massive hole in their finances as well as the one on the ground. Also, whilst other clubs have wobbled, they have made cuts to suit their budgets......Bradford have laid off staff left, right and centre, but retain the core of their squad. Their squad is their only asset but rather than strip that back, the new new, new new, new (is there another one in there?) owners are trying to get the previous owner to walk away close to 7 figures down after 15 months




Sell more, whinge less. It's what Wakefield are doing and for that they are gaining respect across the RL community. Can't speak for others, but Bradford aren't at the same standing they were in 2006 in my opinion. Begging for money one year, offering to give up sky money to ensure survival then whining like stuck pigs when they continue to overspend. Bradford overspent by over 1 million last year.....whining about half of that in SKY cash deflects away from the fiscal ineptitude that reigned over 2013!


Yep.....they KNEW it lost money in 2013 but it was still a cornerstone of their 2014 3 pronged business strategy








They're only bias if you are a Myopic Bradford fan. To most neutrals, they are pretty reasoned comments on a fiasco, wrapped in a farce, padded out with some fudged accounting!
Ignorant...or even wilfully ignorant is a tad harsh. I haven't made up any of the above observations. Bradford are in the ter 2 years after they were last in the ter and the only thing that has kept them alive over that period has been the goodwill (and finances) of the RFL and a 900k loan that has now been called in. I'm not sure if the 200k loan from the council has been settled either.

Your defence of your club is admirable by the way. I have defended London for years on these boards from unsubstantiated claims, but the difference is, the word UNSUBSTANTIATED.

You suspect stuff....I know stuff and knowledge is both King and the Key that will set you free.

Yes, this thread is about Nigel Wood and the Bulls. But YOU have asserted that the Bulls have had preferential treatment that no other club has had access to. Then you refuse to even acknowledge those clubs that have also had help from the RFL and what has happened there purely because it DOES damage your argument that Bradford are alone in having any sort of hand up from the RFL. Ignoring something because it damages your argument IS willful ignorance.

You might know stuff, but I doubt your actual knowledge extends to what is actually happening at Bradford despite you trying to imply otherwise.

Its interesting that some posters believe that if the RFL have offered preferential support to 2 or 3 clubs it somehow means that the huge amounts pumped into the Bulls is okay. Ridiculous.

The support for Crusaders is oft quoted. This makes my original point that Wood and his cronies are have serious questions to answer. The RFL were desperate to get a welsh team in SL. They failed to notice all the inappropriate visas used by crusaders players / failed to see that the Brdgend ground was a wreck and failed to see that Samuel either had insufficient money or that he would not support a SL team for 3 years then we had the shambles that followed in Wrexham. rather than admit that they got it wrong we see more and more resources wasted. Yet no one at the RFL falls on their sword.

How many times? Yes, other clubs have received assistance from the RFL over the years. The point is that none of them and quite possible all of then collectively, have not received the level of assistance, financial or otherwise that has been extended to Bradford in the last 24 months. Your refusal to accept this negates the need for any argument, but does call for the guys in white coats




Where have I said I knew/know what is going on at Bradford other than the stuff in the public arena?

I questioned the validity of Whitcut and Moore and I poured scorn on their 3 pronged business plan of the shop, the coral suite and the concerts. I was correct about Whitcut, the jury is still out on Moore and the 2013 concerts leaked cash to the tune of 6 figures! As for the shop, there was, in your own words, a fire sale over the weekend just gone, the coral suite hasn't seen a surge in bookings and the RFL are having to mediate between the last saviour and the 3 guys trying to get control of the club for nothing some 3 months after the infamous 3 pronged business plan delivered by barman and bedboy!

BTW, Currently, OK will not hand over HIS club without assurances regarding the money he is owed......where do you think those assurances might come from? The 3 amigos have said they ain't playing that game, so who's left to give a guarantee on OK's money?

Ah, so you've now changed your argument. You were adamant that what ever happened with other clubs it is not relevant to Bradford's situation.

But you still don't seem to be able to actually come up with anything to back up your assumption that Bradford have had anything more in the way of support than is available to any other club.

Yes, you consistently poor scorn on the business plan put forward by the Bulls. But you seem to be the only one who thinks that a club looking at new avenues for income is some how a bad thing to be mocked.

Yes, the "fire sale" at the club. My sarcastic comment seems to have been taken at face value by you. It was last seasons stock being cleared. I think you'll find that all sports clubs who sell memorabilia etc will have a similar end of season clear out.

Are you now suggesting that the RFL are going to step in and buy the Bulls off OK? Or are you just making things up again to try and stir the pot.

You didnt state what Rochdales loan was?

And just out of interest and I know it isnt the original point of the thread, but Bradford had their business plan passed by the RFL s auditors less than 6 months before the loan was made, quite incredible really

There was genuine collateral and the loan paid back, plus over a million pounds.

HTH

If you can't see that this, and your assertion that Bradford received preferential treatment are inherently contradictory your a fsking moron as well as a troll.

HTH

I believe £200k and it's secured against this season's Sky payments hence the need to cut the wage bill.

Didn't OK take out a loan of £300k from the local council within months of starting up again..hope they didn't forget to put that in the books.

So according to Smokey the loan was paid back plus a million pounds (what was that? A donation?). If this was the case and all this money went to the RFL why isn't the lease back with Bradford

Oh my god it's like someone arguing with themselves. Can't be bothered chirping in with people who just put out a mantra. But I will say play nicely. Remember there is an ignore function. Sadly not available to mods. But watch the language. I've only done a brief scan but something has slippedthrough the filter. Other than that feel free to keep posting immovable positions.

I put the link to the story on there. It was £7k to pay off the Inland Revenue.

No it wasnt, you put a link to something you didnt read it would seem

If it was 7 K, hardly a ' substantial ' amount

If you aren't going to 'ignore' the troll then can you refrain from quoting the said troll so those of us that have taken up that option don't have to put up with it's repetitive diatribe. Cheers!

You really can't handle a bit of debate can you? If it's not name calling it's pages and pages of utter unintelligible tripe....you are proof perfect of the old warning.

[iNever argue with an idiot! If you do, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience![/i

That depends on the club in question. To a SL club, 7k might not be a great deal of money, but for a club at Rochdale's level? It can be the difference between life and death.

So how much was the loan ?

Not necessarily correct what the article actually said was:

"The loan is around £7,000 short of the club’s current tax bill – but Hornets’ directors will make up the shortfall."

That can clearly be read in two ways, either the loan was £7,000 which was short of the total required OR the loan was the value of the tax bill less £7,000

The Manchester Evening News school of grammar and punctuation strikes again

Why did you have to spoil it? ,he clearly cannot read properly as I was going to point out

In fact it looks likely that the loan was more than 7 K , proving his point even more, still completely irrelivant though, the Bulls are a mess, their administration for the last 5/6 years has been abysmal and they have been well supported by the RFL, over and above what they were probably due

But thats in the past, time for them to stand on their own two feet, wherever that might be

Yeah, I mis-read the article. [url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/town/workington-town-rivals-rochdale-hornets-could-be-saved-1.322339?referrerPath=home/2.1962#This one[/urlhowever, has a few more interesting figures. A winding up order for £55k, the RFL loan being around £7k short, meaning a loan of around £48k. Which as you pointed out, makes my point even more solid. And as the argument was that the Bulls have been solitary in their support from the RFL, I don't see how other clubs getting the same sort of hand ups can be irrelevant.