It is all very well for DH to have his mojo back but his poor decisions and procrastination have left us in very poor position indeed. The club had two fundamental problems to solve: under performance of the playing squad and poor attendance. Analysis of historical data would tell you there is a correlation between these items.

Was a change in venue the answer to the issue of attendances ? Again, an analysis of historical data would have suggested otherwise. While the Hive offers a potential solution to DH's lack of interest in marketing by letting someone else benefit from the results, a similar deal could potentially have been found without a move. This is a move, by the way, that seemingly consumed the limited capability of the CEO for an entire season and meant no efforts were made to attract a crowd during that time.

Worse though, DH crippled preparation for this season when relegation would be reintroduced. While I can absolutely understand DH's frustration with the previous squad it was a situation of under achievement rather than a simple lack of quality. So we have a situation where the same coach is left to cobble together a squad at the last minute. A problem entirely of our own making leaving us with the likely outcome of Championship RL or bust.

And let us not forget this is the final year of a licence period which DH stood in front of us and told us he was committed to and submitted an application on the basis of criteria which would now not be met.

We should be thankful that we are not being docked points.

No doubt if Bradford go down and we don't, the topic of "points being docked" will become a hot one on the VT.

Avoided administration so nothing to be docked points for.

Some despised him. They had that much respect for him that they were prepared to not play for New Zealand again so they didn't have to work with him. Do you get that. Rather than "doubting" many players liked.... Your opinion is exactly that. An opinion.





Oh OK then I won't listen to anyone that worked with him or played under him anymore, but will listen to one person you suggest. Sorted.

read the entire regulations regarding the area of administration, CVA etc.....it was only the fact that we "supposedly" paid everyone off (Hughes found his spine and his chequebook) that we weren't open to "sanction".

Now, not one to start unsubstantiated rumours (unless it's on the Bradford Board), but we are on extra cash this year from the RFL......for Marketing (BRIBE)........it would be possible to put 2 and 2 together and come up with 6......this is RL after all.

Oi.....get your own soap box!

He's back coaching in Rugby League now (care of rammo on twitter).....at Medway Dragons. Chances are, his new charges might overtake his old ones on the way down/up.

In two threads you say Bribe. Seriously mate?

Listen to them all you want but I doubt I'm the only one to think most of them were over here on a paid holiday.

I don't dispute that there would be people on here, of the same opinion. Doesn't detract the conversations I've had with the people who were coached by him or worked with him. Ultimately, the results will obviously indicate the extent of his work at the club and how he'll be judged/remembered. I myself was surprised by the positivity when I would hear about him because I judged the results whilst continually playing devil's advocate as I see fans' forums at my club, where people make comments or judgements that are so so off the mark.

This will obviously go round and round, so I'll keep schtum now

GO ON......shake the moderators tree again



The Landlord of the London Broncos, who receives rent from the club for access to office space, as well as 100% of the ticket and other match-day revenue in return for us having his ground for the day [size=200IS IN RECEIPT OF FUNDS DIRECTLY FROM THE RFL TO PROMOTE AND MARKET THE GAMES FROM WHICH HE RECEIVES 100% OF THE REVENUE[/size.

If Bribe isn't the right word, I am happy to use "incentive"

Nothing to do with Mods. So you're yet wrong again. You post away what you like.

Just be careful you don't put yourself up for libel or the like mate that's all. You get things in your mind and don't let them go.

To have a successful libel action at Law, you need to prove, amongst other things, that your reputation has been damaged.
Therefore you need to have a good reputation to lose. QED?

As far as I can tell money has been spent on marketing, with full page spreads in local papers and leaflets for both Barnet and Broncos. That Broncos are at the hive has had good press and local tv coverage but crowds are poor. GF is right to ask how this money was/ will be spent but without having any idea of how much money was provided to the hive or evidence that the hive have not spent the money on its intended purpose then I find it hard to claim its a bribe. Was it an enticement to ensure the deal happened? Of cause it was, who benefits if the money spent pays off? Everyone involved, but most especially the fans and the reputation of RL in london. No one benefits from it's failure to attract fans. GF is only turning his guns on this money as the argument that loads of people would pay to go and see Broncos at the Hive has fallen flat and no longer supports his theory that TK has been given a license to print money. That the Hive is closing sections of the stadia to cut costs is a clear indication to me that the Broncos at the Hive is not a money spinner.

So what do you do? Spend a fortune on marketing and get next to nothing back or wait until you have some results on the pitch and a sellable product. Lets be honest about this, most Bronco fans think their team are a dead duck so why should non fans be interested and going to see a team get battered is not a good advert to get them coming back. Giving away free
tickets has a limited benefit and generally devalues the product.

Bottom line is the move to the Hive has not proved as attractive to fans as those brokering the deal had hoped and building a new support base will not happen overnight. Whether the numbers eventually prove enough to make broncos viable is doubtful, I doubt anyone will be spending big on marketing as you are all shouting for as recent history has shown diminishing returns.
I'm sure there are those saying we should've stayed at the Stoop but the deal on the table was Hive or nothing. I get the impression that a fair number would've preferred the later.

If TK has spent the money provided on promoting Broncos we can't complain if he doesn't spend a penny more. He's a businessman, we get that. Most of us aren't local and haven't seen any evidence of marketing.

Re free tickets. I'd usually agree but if the marketing budget is already spent then it's the only option. We clearly have three shocking gates looming. Get free tickets out for them. None for the next game along and see if there is a gain. If not there's no point repeating it and the number crunchers can start working out whether we are viable in the Championship or whether Bradford is our last ever game.

I go on the 'Terraces closed' thread and get big font ranting about Barnet FC's 'bribe' and marketing and etc etc. I wearily close the thread and open one about avoiding relegation. What do I find....? The exact same conversation. By the same person. With the same facts and figures. How to kill a forum...

You need to sell something, if the results aren't great you have to sell the vision, the future....or you could sell nothing, close the terraces and make less and less money. Pathetic.

But it matters not a jot to the Broncos in financial terms if there are 50 or 5000 fans.

I was asked to explain my use of the word bribe........if you want to see happy threads go on the castleford forum

Give us a D R O N E

Insightful as ever

But every thread ends up at the same place? DH is c***, the people he employs are c***, the team are c***, attendances are down by xxx%, points difference is xxx% worse than 2008/9/10.................. etc etc etc.

I rarely come on this site now - too depressing. As this thread started about avoiding relegation - why not talk about that? I actually go to games to watch a team of 17 people play rugby. I could not give a f*** about the performance of the owner/CEO. I spend about 80hrs a week dealing with Boards of Directors/Chairs/CEOs etc (Note - not bragging merely stating a fact), sat in endless meetings or in front of a computer. Going to a game is a great escape!!!!!

When I am on here I am interested in news about the team/performances etc etc - not the egos of other supporters. I am as interested in the future of the club as anyone, and I despair at times...........

But to get back on thread. I have been hugely encouraged by the performances this year - we at least have a team who seem to want to play and give 100%. They may not be good enough, they in all probability will be relegated. The next few weeks are probably key - but hey ho. I will enjoy the games!

Spot on Brian, our performances are getting there, as I said previously we must hope we simply don't "run out of season" before the improvements can get us away from the relegation spots. I think we'll just about avoid relegation (9th I hope) BUT, if we don't (and for me it's an unlikely IF) then I'll continue to watch the club in what ever guise they continue on in.

I don't care if we are next seasons strugglers in SL or next seasons Championship favourites or even a whole new entity having to start life again in tier 3, I'll still follow MY club.

Well said that man

The truth will always prevail.