I'd be looking to do over the next two years exactly what Toulouse have done over the past two years.
Year 1 solid higher end of mid table and giving the top few teams a game.
Year 2 being extremely competitive.
I think we can be drawing on a bigger talent pool than they have too.

And I actually like the new top 5 system. Was always the best playoff format imo.

I agree with Bulliac. The top of league1 and the bottom of the championship are not much different. We were relegated due to the points dediction, having no players and no coach or any pre - season. The squad we've had this year is ,imo, superior and with the new signings should be competitive next year.
Kear was on radio a few weeks ago saying if we were promoted he'd be aiming for a top 4 finish next year. Realisticly , that may be a best case scenario but it shows his intent.
The main challenge i think we'll have next year is that we'll still be seen as a scalp and if we are below our best, as we have been at times this season, then we won't get away with like we have on a few occasions this year.

a middle to upper part of the table would be fine by me, top 5 the year after

TBH, with the right signings to bolster the squad as it stands - a few of the loan lads joining on perm deals, some of the OOC guys getting extensions and a couple of old heads to help give us some leadership on the pitch, I don't see the play-offs as being beyond us. Bouncing straight up to SL is, IMO a step too far, but a lot of the clubs in the championship are spinning their wheels as far as on field performances go. If you look at the championship table - outside you can pretty much predict the end of season table to within 2 places for every team.

That isn't meant as an arrogant "ooh Bradford are so good we're going to walk the league", it's based off the fact that I would expect us to improve our crowds in 2019 which have been record breaking for League 1 and we should see an improvement there as well as a number of additional season tickets sold for 2019 over the number sold for 2018 (i know I've bought mine for next year when I didn't buy one this year) which should see the budget for playing staff be improved which should allow Kear the room he needs to bring improved players for the squad.

The majority of the other Championship clubs don't have that luxury and most have a narrow budget to play with - which is why you'll never really see a great deal of change in the table as they haven't the room to bulk out their squad and so tend to be reliant on the players they got or the gamble of players they can bring in on loan/DR and all the inherent problems that can cause when their parent club pulls those players back.

It's a top 5 play-off system for a spot in SL in 2020 and going by the last 4 years 30 points should be enough to grab 5th place. That's 15 wins, which I think Bradford under John Kear are capable of delivering. I mean, without the deduction, we got 12 points and we didn't even have a side the last time we were in this division.

IMO we hit a large turning point in those last two games of the season and we would have given any Championship side a very good game.On the back of that I can see improvement, with new signings and our youngsters getting better and better as time goes on,in other words I can see us challenging strongly for the top 5.Aim high,we have the talent right there.

Great to see the optimism generated by the last two games of the season but I feel we shouldn't get carried away. It's going to be an extremely tough Championship next season and I for one will be happy if we remain comfortably out of the relegation scrap. Can anyone confirm how many teams go down at the end of next season - is it one or two?

Bottom two.

Well, they said that this season too

How stupid and naive of me.

You should always aim high.

When I was at school (a while ago...) I remember a teacher telling us that, if you want to hit the roof you should aim for the sky and then there was a chance you just might hit the roof. Aim for the roof and you'll probably fall back onto your .

I didn't type 'booty' btw, nor did the teacher say it, but big brother didn't like it......

I'd like us to sign a couple of experienced aussies/south seas players. A rough house prop like Sironen and a loose forward, if we can do that and hold onto Hitchcox and maybe Egodo I believe we can challenge for a top 5 finish.

2019 - Promotion to Super League
2020 - Win Super League
2021 - World Club Champions

The club has to say we are aiming and can challenge the top 5. That is what will sell season tickets after all m.

In reality, they will know just how competitive the championship will be next year. We need to strengthen if we are going to survive.

The first aim has to be to hit the ground running. And try to pick up a win or two in those opening fixtures especially with the good feeling running. Flip side of that if we get hammered by Toronto, Toulouse and Widnes in the opening three games you will get some calling for the panic button

Farce is - to me - a harsh summation when it's probably the most "sensible" way of promoting to SL in well over a decade compared to the last few systems of 8s, and franchising/no promotion at all.

This system guarantees promotion to SL - not so under the 8s, although the only year a team has failed to go up was the year we were in the MPG! - and guarantees it's earned on the pitch.

The last time there was regular promotion/relegation from the Championship it was a playoff final system, and that seemed to go ok.

I think with the squad as it, we'd be around mid table.

With 2 or 3 shrewd signings I think we'd have a good shot at the play offs.

The current guys will improve massively from playing competitive rugby week in week out too.
It's great piling on the points most weeks, but isn't really any good foe developing the players.

On the top 5 - get both sides of the argument, but I think it adds to season and gives a nice finale.
The top 5 format is my favourite of the play off formats too.
Where will the GF of it be played? At the home of the highest placed club?