Effectively we're back in special measures until RFL ratify takeover. Hope they do it sharpish or it could have a big effect on ticket sales. Combination of uncertainty over takeover and not knowing full squad could make people wait to renew and if it gets past early bird deadline they then decide they might as well pay on the gate.

I said at the time of Omar's resignation that it was probably the worst timing to do it. He literally could not have picked a worse time, for all the reasons you list above.

Well what's the hold up? Have the new blokes sent the business plan to the RFL yet?

The RFL are sleeping on it

Oh yes

Bedzrus worth £84k according to last accounts. Yet they are talking big money. Where is it coming from? Why am I thinking that before long administration will be with us again. No wonder Carvell is worried (see today's Yorkshire Post).

Er, they're really not. Company accounts don't actually state what a company "is worth". "Worth" is based on many factors; but whatever the accountants concoct for the purposes of a given year's filed accounts ain't one of 'em!

I wonder if Chris Caisley is the Bedz R Us bloke sleeping partner

The value of the new owners company is not really the point, the question is how much if any of it would he be prepared to put into the club?
From his statements at the time of the change in ownership he was hoping the club would operate on a "commercial basis" - which I would take to mean cover its costs without needing big cash injections from the owners. I must admit I though that was either very optimistic given the finances of the game as a whole or indicating we would have to live according to our ticket and sponsorship money - which would mean we would struggle to maintain our SL status.

Did anyone engage the gentleman in conversation last evening during "open door", and if so would you pl report back.

The book value of the company according to the last audited accounts is £82 (not £84 as I previously stated).

£82 or £82k

I have heard that although Omar has officially left the club, it's still his brass that's been used and will continue to be, hence the confidentiality clause

Way back in 2003 I spoke to Chris Caisley about how the club was funded and he thought the idea that you could make money out of running a RL club was quite fanciful. Obviously Leeds do it but that's because they're more than just a RL club and they're in Leeds rather than Bradford.

As for being self sustaining that's a big ask too IMO. Can it be done at Bradford? The city is still in the depths of recession. The game as a whole is less healthy than it was ten years ago. To maintain a SL team is going to be difficult. I can only hope Mr Moore has his eyes open and is honest and up front with supporters.

There's no real reason why a rugby club can't be self sustaining in Bradford, or anywhere else for that matter. The real problem is the level you are happy to run the club at, and to what extent supporters and sponsors are prepared to 'support' any non aspirational format.

I'd guess the Bulls could be run, with current crowds and sponsors, at a middle SL level, maybe making the play-offs [as they are now configured] regularly. If things work out, and the coach was both fortunate and a good operator it would be possible to improve the level, but this would only be sustainable if it led to greater income [principally higher crowds]which was then invested in the team. Without outside finance we would always be behind those who [iwere[/i fortunate enough to have it though. It goes without saying, of course, that if support dropped then, without outside finance, the level of football would most likely hit the downward spiral, causing etc etc....

I think the city is big enough to support that, but like all clubs support can be fickle. Chris Caisley blamed the Bradford crowds for not supporting the success that he'd brought, and much as I railed at him at the time, it wasn't because he was wrong about the public ['cos he was spot on, in truth] but because publicly slagging off the fans for not turning up was only ever going to be counter productive. One thing is for certain though, and that is that an ever smaller fan base demanding more and more financial input will never work.

What shouldnt be underestimated is the knock on effect, the current good feeling at bradford city, is having at the bulls. When the Bulls were at their pomp 9years or so ago city were going to the wall and therefor the bulls managed to tap into their fanbase, now the boot is firmly on the other foot im sure those forced to making a choice will now be choosing to spend their money on following city rather than the bulls. Sports fans are a fickle bunch, always will be, without the 50 or so percent of hardcore supporters the rest will be there either when it suits financially or when the good times and big games return