No, it's not entirely fair, but it's less obviously unfair than giving two points for every single Bradford game (obviously favours Leeds with 6 points, and also rewards teams who've already lost to Bradford), or expunging all games (goes against Leeds, who would end the season having "played" one game less than everyone else). At least if they keep the current results then as many points as possible have actually been decided on the pitch.

As you say, hopefully it won't come to that.

Indeed. I think the fair way would have been for the RFL to have announced before Magic Weekend (when the Bulls problems were well known) that, as far as Leeds were concerned, that result would stand even if all the other Bulls results were to be expunged. Its a lot more difficult to deal with after the event.

Some have suggested that the entire Magic Weekend results would need to be expunged but that would severely damage the credibility of the event, especially as other clubs may be struggling when its played next season. And the 7 clubs that won their fixtures would have something to say.

Would be easy to cancel results, only one club with an issue then. Possibly give one point.

Expunging the result is better because it eliminates the need to take points difference into consideration.

As far as I can see, the only realistic survival option for Bradford atm is a move away from Odsal to Valley Parade. The RFL can then sell Odsal off to whatever development its best suited for, and use the money raised as an interest-free loan to Bradford. This should be enough to keep them afloat. However, at the same time they are going to have to cancel a huge number of contracts to reduce players wages. I think Bradford will be saying bye-bye to Kearney, Kear, Platt, Sykes, Pryce, Jeffries, Gale, Sammut, Diskin, L'Estrange, Kopczak, Burgess, Scruton, Hargeaves, Elima, Langley, Whitehead & Bateman i.e. anyone who can get a first team gig somewhere else.

The RFL have the lease on Odsal but they don't own it. The Council owns it.

If there's no RL to be played on it the RFL may wish to sell the lease. But any buyer would have to do a deal with the Council. Any development would have to go through planning procedures. Is it really that attractive a proposition?

They'll finish their 2012 fixtures according to this: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18609190

They'll finish their 2012 fixtures according to this: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18609190

For the umpteenth time in different threads, the RFL do not own Odsal. They own a long lease on the property. I would imagine all they could do is sell the lease, but who is going to want to take on the lease to a sports stadium?

They have also said that if the Bulls are liquidated and reform as a Newco, they will be allowed to fulfill the rest of their 2012 fixtures.

None what so ever, plenty of sites around with far less red tape involved.

Am I misremembering that a long time ago Tesco wanted to buy Odsal but were dissuaded by a combination of Bradford Council and Ken Morrison?

You can say it umpteen times but it doesn't make it any more correct.

The RFL own the leasehold interest in Odsal. Effectively that means they own Odsal.

If you bought a flat, for example, you would own the leasehold, probably on a 999 year lease. You still own the flat though.

HTH,

but if you bought a flat and wanted to use it as a nightclub you woul still need to get planning permission. on top of which i'm sure the lease will stipulate what the site can be used for without getting approval from the lessor.

And don`t tell me you think Leeds should buy them all

Effectively?

So if the RFL wanted to, they could sell the land to Mowlem who could then build a housing estate on it without the freeholder having any say in the matter?

Why would they join Bradford?
Surely that is a restriction of trade?
What if Halifax could not afford to pay their existing wages?
What if they wanted to join another SL team?