Same way in which Greece met the fiscal requirements for joining the Euro.

This is also very solid analysis. Cutting remarks like these belong on HIGNFY.

I'd bet Bradford - like every other club - were banking on a lot bigger central sponsorhip deal than they got. The RFL will in fact have allowed all clubs to include that sort of money. Stobart advertising is nothing like the same as hard cash.

Then that in itself was a stupid thing to do, all clubs should realistically budget to operate on 80/90 % of their previous years income, any fluctuations in revenue due to on field performance or economic conditions can be catered for

It really isnt rocket surgery, and the licence system allows for it

But as we know, human nature comes into the equation, just as was pointed out at the start of this system

Love it especially the second club down

Cas would be in a much more comfortable position if they weren't being forced into building a new stadium that they can't afford and are unlikely to fill. I daresay the same is true for several other clubs. The RFL must rethink its franchise strategy- by all means keep financial probity (though clearly they need to be more vigilant in this regard) but its time they dropped the stadium criteria from the franchise applications and brought back P&R to allow clubs in the lower divisions a shot at the big time.
RL used to be about who was best on the pitch not the boardroom.

You reckon they were banking on £1M worth of central sponsorship?

And how much of that sponsorship deal goes to the clubs anyway? I thought most of it went to the RFL since most of the TV deal goes to the clubs.

A strange time to play this particular tune. Bradford, a team that has been held bad due to their $h1t hole ground, are near insolvency while Salford and St.Helens are experiencing improved attendances and (I would imagine) financial success.

You would think that this was proof that the RFL pushing for modern Stadia is a good thing.

OK the RFL are a bunch of badly trained apes and the licencing rules are badly thought out, Leigh having to rip out seating to get an box checked being an example of this. But having a good facilities to play at and train in are vital.

In my eyes Bradford need to do two things to get back on track. 1. Sack the board. 2. Move to Valley Parade.

Que ?

It's not uncommon for a new owner to paint the previous regime as incompetent - or worse. I've yet to see any evidence to support the exalted position Hull fans appear to be placing Pearson in. You believed the previous lot after all - perhaps you're just gullible over there?

Nothing to do with it, Bradford lived beyond their means buying success they couldn't afford - we can all do that.

100% right and sending out totally the wrong image about the sport's worth to potential sponsors (though probably just as well as most outsiders do not realise the terms of the deal).

You do know that the SL clubs were responsible for voting on whether to accept the Stobart sponsorship deal or the alternative cash offer from Betfair, don't you?

That it came out 9-5 in favour of Stobart has sod all to do with the RFL.

A million pounds over one year is not a lot of money in professional sport.

You think the £50k the Bulls might have got from taking the alternative sponsorship deal was what drove them over the edge?


Bradford, of course, voted in favour of the Stobart deal.

Cas will be ok. They will just develop a few more kids and sell them to Hull.

It is in RL , not in ' proper ' professional sport

So that'll be football then?

You take a million quid out of the bank of any of English cricket's first class counties, or any of the Premiership rugby union sides and see how fast they collapse like a deck of cards.

Tell Robinson , not me

Salford reckon that they need an average attendance of 10k a game to cover the costs of the new stadium (at least that's what they advised the Cas directors when they were researching the implications of our new ground) so when Salford hit the 10k average for a sustained period you can tell me their new stadium has been a financial success. Until then the financial success does indeed remain in your imagination.

It is when you haven't got it.

If it wasn't a lot of money it wouldn't be sending Bradford to the graveyard.