I've just received some updates from FA on the notes I've put up. Thanks for that FA!

AC also emphasised that they actually had no players. Those who had got fixed up elsewhere had gone, those left had to be immediately either signed up or not, in most cases without the new management having even seen them play.
In a purchase out of administration, you at least get a whole package, a structure, staff, equipment, employees including players. In a liquidation you get nothing. You start with a blank sheet.

o All the players know where they stand regarding contracts. We did not sign players up on longer contracts as basically the squad was what remained that had been inherited, and actually being able to field a team at all would in many cases be the first time the new management/coaching team had even seen them play.
At the time of the takeover, we didn’t even have anywhere to train. Due to the many previous financial issues, the Bulls were unable to use the training facility at Tong. AC expressed his gratitude to Bradford Council for their work in brokering a deal (he didn’t say what) to allow the Bulls to resume using the training facilities.

AC said that next year we would operate a Tier 1 and also a Tier 3 Academy setup, and he also indicated that we would be operating a reserve team

When they bought the club they signed all the players who hadn’t already signed with other clubs. The season was about to kick off and those were the only players available so no choice but to sign them regardless of how much or little was known about them. Also the reality is that given the liquidation and collapse of the old club, the fact is that the players had had no real pre-season to speak of at all.

Also, this week the Conditioning coach starts this Thursday. Finding professionals in the sports industry has been difficult because of our recent past history. No-one will risk leaving a steady job for us! For that reason we have not had a physiotherapist working full time for the club but have worked hard on this and have just signed up a club physio as well.

Starting in CH1 was never an option. The RFL invited bidders with the unmovable proviso that they would start in the league with a -12 deficit, a reduction in funding, and that the new owners pay off some of the previous companies debt i.e. the so-called “rugby debts” had to be paid. Starting in a lower league was not an option. It was a RFL take it or leave it offer.

He was well aware of Bradford’s history and potential which he said would have been a tragedy for it all to come to an end, which it was about to do. He said that Bradford Bulls was a challenge, and one he is enjoying more than any other job at the moment.

All of the incidents from the Dewsbury game were reported to the RFL but no action was taken about any of the other incidents we expressed concern about.

Overall we agreed we were surprised to have come out of the meeting feeling much more positive than when we went in. AC does come across as genuine and with real plans for the Bulls, but perhaps the scale of the job was not appreciated by many supporters, and maybe the good start the team made in the first part of the season has masked just what a dire situation we were in and that we literally started from nothing, days before kickoff.

This maybe the plan. Instead of expanding the shop the reducing the fanbase.

I still find it difficult to believe that the RFL would not have stepped in had no one come forward and agreed to the ridiculous penalties placed on the club. They were protecting their precious magic weekend and the fixture list. They played a game of poker well and won.

Wasn't 6pts of the deduction a penalty for the previous, supposedly unrelated company, not paying its debts. Yet the new company paid the rugby portion of the debt AND got points deduction as well.

Firstly well done to the guys for meeting AC and taking the time to write it up. Pity the club don't make the same effort to communicate with the fans.
Here's where I'm at. After all the turmoil over last winter I was just grateful to have a club and was prepared to give my full support, despite the feeling that the RFL were taking us for mugs and we had no chance of staying up.
After a difficult start, things began to really look up and after those 5 wins I thought my pessimism had been unfounded and was confident we could stay up. Since then everything seems to have gone from bad to worse on and off the field, and I'm now at the stage when I just can't face any more misery. Like everyone else i wanted us to start again with a clean slate in League 1, but after such a diabolical season how many of us will be left to pick up the pieces next year?
Being told to "get behind the club" by the T&A just makes me angry - we've been getting behind them all season and look where we are! Relegation is now a certainty, and I have no confidence that any of the players or management will stick around, except Duffy of course who always resurfaces like an unwelcome turd.

Considering AC emphasises the fact the we had no players, were starting from a clean slate and had to immediately sign up any players that still remained without even having seen them play (in most cases) WHY then did not see fit to keep Rohan Smith, who had worked with these players through the off season, keeping them in training and getting them match fit despite all the uncertainty???

They were happy to keep other players they hadn't seen play, yet Chisholm was practically BEGGING them to keep him and they weren't interested?

At least Rohan knew the players he was dealing with, had worked really hard to keep their spirits up in what were very dire circumstances, his Christmas and New Year ruined (as were the players'). In my view he deserved a chance and there was little logic in the decision not to keep him at Odsal.

PS - I would also like to add my thanks to the guys for managing to get something out of our otherwise silent owners, great effort guys!

Does anyone know a single person who was amongst these "twenty randomly selected fans"?

I would have very much like to have been party to this, but didn't even know it was happening. Like most fans I suspect.
Unless I see someone I know and trust say they were part of it, I'm not even totally convinced it actually happened.

He really is unflushable.

As far as getting behind the club, don't forget to make sure you buy plenty of food and drink inside the ground, despite the substandard quality of it. And even if you live nowhere near Bradford, make sure you drive all the way to Odsal to get your away tickets so they get their cut, as well as paying £45 for a shirt the team haven't ever played in, with about a third of the season left (god forbid you've be able to buy these things in some kind of fancy a*sed online store). If you don't do these things, you're a BAD FAN!

I suspect Toovey was on board from the start and that meant no place for Rohan Smith.

Definitely agree about Rohan. He was, in a few ways, an untried coach, but so is Toovey, to be fair, particularly in the matter of building a side from scratch. Rohan had proved he could get really decent players in after he took over, but probably wasn't here early enough to save us from relegation.

But judging by the squad announcement article, that still isn't happening.

This is why I struggle to believe what they say. Actions not backing it up.

Sorry, but this place is getting as bad as that frigging supposed Bulls "Supporters" group on facebook. I just wonder what it would take to make any of the moaners and groaners on here happy.

I said when the club folded it would for me be like starting a club from scratch and that it would not be the same. In fact I was wrong... it is exactly the same. Its still full of the same old gripes, the same complainers, the same stay away fans (i'll not spend another penny ones). What do you actually want? What is it that you actually think you want to achieve. I'd much rather you all just f*ck off as it would be a much happier place for us lot that just want to go watch some rugby without all the negative heartache. The bad blood is all from doom and gloomers, not the club.

Fair play to Friday and FA for going to speak with AC, i've done this a few times this season both on match days (AC actually walks around the stadium... any one of you bothered to go up to him and say hello?) and in the club offices. He's a quite sound bloke, very knowledgeable about the game and just as frustrated with the performances on the pitch as fans are. But he's also a realist. He knew this season would be a challenge to stay up with what we started out with 22 weeks ago, which was jack sh*t!!!

Someone on here (think it was Smack him jimmy?) said all he wants is a winning team. Yes we all want that. How friggin obvious. But so do the other 40 clubs in the scheme of things. I'm going to let you into a little secret... someone has to finish bottom (awaits gasps and shock horror at that fact!!!). That is how sport works.

Here's the facts... we have a club, the club has players (quality or not), we get to go watch said players... I might not be thrilled at the results or performances but compared to 22 weeks ago, I'm pretty pleased that we have just that.

Next year we will probably go down yes. And it will be , yes. And we probably will lose more so called lifelong supporters, yes. But i'm fine with that.

Oh, and for those who question the current owners and certain staff's intentions, just a few thoughts. Andrew Chalmers... would you sell up your family home, pack up your family and fly them half way across the world to live in the total hole that is Bradford, to have no central money to spend and therefore every penny that is spent comes from your own pocket (remember most of us paid for ST into Green's accounts) to be completely disinterested and not bothered if the venture fails or succeeds?

Graham Lowe... not in the country due to health complications? This is the club that gives more people heart attacks than any other (just ask fans "favourite" Stuart Duffy). I'd stay well clear if I'd had the scares that they have but yet they still have tried to help despite the constant social media keyboard warriors backlash.

Stepping up and doing something at this club is well and truly a thankless task for sure.

I know i'll get loads of stick for this but I really do wonder what it would take (something realistic, not pie in the sky stuff) to actually turn around the current discontent. So rather than just dishing out the general abuse to anyone who shows the slightest positivity in a gloomy ty situation, answer this question. What one thing that is realistic to achieve would you like to see that would get you on board and supportive?

Take that response and pass it onto to AC next time you see him walk past you at a game (if you can be bothered to go again that is).

I am encouraged by the interview. Thanks you guys for doing that.
We all know we should have started in Ch1. AC has clearly stated that they had no choice in that.
He also explains the problems they have had in this 4 month - just a few weeks.
I see many good points taken from the minutes of the meeting.
> His belief in building a top quality academy and other levels.
> Sponsors already set up which shows they are already planning and done work for next season.
> Toovey is here for next season. I don't blame any owner wanting his own man. I would.

Even if we had been in the lower league we would have had all of these problems so unfortunately I am starting to look at this season as a wasted season. But could the owners have done much more?
The shame is we could stay up with just a little more quality.

I wish I could persuade AC to hold a fans forum and I would advise him to be straight with the fans and explain to them what he has planned for the club.
Even if we go down it would encourage fans greatly if they could see we had a proper long term plan covering finance, youth development, coaching expertise, merchandise and generally running a club professionally which is something that has alluded use recently.
Fans will turn their backs if they don't see this. If they do see this from AC then many will stick with the club.
If I felt we were on the right tracks and there was a realistic plan over say 5-8 years then yes I would accept that next season is the real rebirth of the club now all of the problems are solved.
I would put this season down as something that the club had to go through but we start properly in Feb next year.

P.S. nice one bullinenemyland - to the point but true!

Regular, meaningful and honest communication with all supporters covering all issues facing the club.

For a start.

"Honest" being the big one for me. Something they haven't been recently. I'm sure in person when he turns on the CHARM(ers), it's easy to turn a blind eye to that though.

He comes across to me as one of those blokes you could walk into a room ready to punch his lights out, and come out wanting to buy him a present.