Thats meant to say big money investor or new owner....which as it happens Wakefield now do,

For me the issue when full time we attracted show ponies like the drivel we had when first relegated.

Messing about expecting the badge to carry them to victory whilst routinely getting beaten by the players they looked down on.

To go full time needs serious SL type budget with player who you can assure will be retained if you go up.

I can't see Niggle and co attracting that kind of money so would we prefer a top end part-time team like we have or highly paid journeymen stealing a living.

And I suppse you have to have that budget for several years incase you do a Fev.....

That sounds harsh and and I never thought I'd say it but as an example - Patten

What Leigh did was once in a lifetime sort of stuff where the stars align perfectly. People forget that by the time the season started they didn't have much of a squad assembled, losing early doors to Fev, then a number of players became available for different reasons and with SL teams already up to their quota limits and the Championship having a loophole it all worked out perfectly for them. If a team in our division had that sort of money now it would still be a struggle to put together a team capable of staying up simply because of the lack of player availability.

Agreed. For a number of years I've looked at Batley as the example we should be following. Although they have a small budget their culture and recruitment is absolutely spot on and they punch substantially above their weight even if this year was a bit of a poor one for them - Wembley is distraction?

I want us to be the best in the division of course but unless we have the required IMG score off the field to secure promotion to SL then it's not worth busting the budget on playing staff for full professionals un less we can afford it and not put the club in danger like in 2015/16. Being best of the semi-pro sides is what we should be aiming for if we aren't likely to be considered for a SL place.

Of course that doesn't mean we should just be happy to stay there. I'd want to see proper plans and actions for the club to meet IMG SL requirements. It might take years and will require a new wealthy owner and a helpful local authority - is that a pig I see flying past?

Featherstone and quite heavily reducing there budget could be a few players on the market

I'd take wildie back.

It may be a blessing for a season or two. If we don't sort the stadium conundrum then I can't see any SL in our immediate future. Maintaining the status quo playing side may allow them to focus on what we REALLY need to improve.

There's no avoiding it. Odsal is a sheeeeeeeeeit tip. As a group we have to take wipes and kitchen roll to clean our seats EVERY game. The car mats are red and the corporate boxes look ready for the scrap man on the outside.

Odsal might be a mess but that won't have any effect on the IMG ratings for what they rank on.

Yep, just keep liking and commenting on all Bradford Bulls social media posts & videos!

I would hope that those in charge are waiting to see our provisional IMG rating before they commit too much of our budget to the squad of players. Things will be different from 2024 onwards and we need to be smart and play the system.
There's no point assembling a squad of world beaters if finishing top still won't get you above the 12th placed SL side on the IMG points system.

So, we’ve currently got 5 props on the books at the moment.
Lawrence
Baldwinson
Scurr
Doro
Okoro

I’m happy with that at the moment. It’s early October after all.

Green & Gill are the main reserves/academy prospects. Green has had game time at Hunslet I think, is he staying?