Your right There the country is on its the game we all love is on its without a big money backer we are doomed to failure

I've swayed back and forth on this since it was announce that there would be a bidding process but have settled on the idea of going up as worth a punt.

As Highlander and Scarey have alluded to, we have stripped the club back to its bare essentials and is in a position where it is spending within its means on £300k central funding. Give it another £700k in the first year back at SL level with some modest stadium upgrades paid through the RFL/Government Loan and we have a shot at beating relegation (if it even happens at all that is). After that you get a full years central funding and take it from there.

My gut feeling is that there is a strong possibility SL becomes a closed shop from 2021, and something that Chalmers said in one of his first fans forums rings some bells. He made a big case saying licensing from 2021 would happen and the way it is now can anyone really say its not a consideration?

This is in my opinion our one and only shot at getting back to the top league. With the ty TV deal coming and smaller central funding, we will essentially go year to year living on selling our best talent to bigger teams. We will never (no matter what anyone says) get close to seeing the full potential of these players to enable us a crack of promotion.

The other consideration is why would the owners choose to make such a bid if they didn't think they could make a go of it? For what reason would Wood and Sawyer have for putting the club in a position that it would fail financially again? There is no benefit to having a failed business on your directors record. They must know something we don't.

My guess is that Odsal unlocks the answer. The lease held by the RFL is still desirable given that it appears as appetizing as a sandwich... ask yourself why. Could it still be possible that there is some value in the land awaiting to be unlocked and that between the two unoccupied sites (Dunnes and Odsal) is an opportunity for the council and leasehold to make some serious money and provide a cost efficient ground for the club and community use?

Wood and Sawyer applied because they had to. Only a handful of clubs actually met the criteria to be eligible. Can you imagine they outcry from (some) Bulls fans if they just didn't bother applying?
I don't for one second think we will be the team to go up.

I on the other had think the criteria was set just to make sure the Bulls made it. Otherwise why say you had to finish Top 6 in the past two seasons? Surely you’d go by playoff places which is 1-5. Why include the 6th team? Do you think they would have said Top 6 if Bradford had made the playoffs?

Its good to see everyones differing opinions on this and to see peoples way if thinking. Creates good debate

I'm with you JJ, there seems to be a lot of the way the criteria has been put together that leads to including us to have a chance at least of meeting the majrity of it. Are the SL club owners seeing a Bradford away support spending money in their ground?

I think the main thing in the whole situation is that the person making the reccomendation is completely impartial and will make a decision based on the pure facts in front of him as opposed to any liking or dislike towards any of the applicants. This really means for me everyone has a much of a chance as each other.

I do thnk we are in with a real chance personally looking at the majority of the criteria, quick look at it, Fev and York no academy. Leigh a barmpot owner who has a tendancy to spit his dummy at any given moment. Toulouse, well Catalans have been in a long time with very little development of French players and have a Challenge cup to show for it. Plus costs rise to the clubs having to go to france twice a year.

London are the big players for me as they have done unbelieveably in my opinion with regards the academy and getting oung local lads in the team. The only problem is the crowds which are of no benefit to current clubs apart from maybe the sway of a team in the Capital helping with discussions regardng the TV deal.

Then there is us, academy renowned for still producing super league players despite being in the championship. Big away support inthe eyes of other chairmen, I mean that first game away at Leigh when I sat with you on the bus was mad.

Going to be very interesting

The criteria certainly ensures we have a real good chance. Especially the financial aspect of the bid. You have to have a turnover of at least £300,000 in either 2018 or 2019. In 2019 we had financial trouble, hence the selling of Minchella, Keyes, Milnes and Mutodi plus why James Green left. However as we didn’t go into administration, did the sale of those players take us over the £300,000 mark? Can’t see us having that turnover in 2018 when we were in League 1.

The away support will be a big pull. More money for other clubs, bigger crowds on TV make the game look better. it’s a story to sell. “Ex World Champions Rise from the ashes”. Can guarantee before our first televised game there will be a big X Factor esc sob story about our fall and rise.

Ah I’ve only read about the judges today. I was under the impressions that it was SL to decide. Even so, SL have made sure we meet pretty much every single criteria and the one we dont is ground ownership which won’t make a difference I don’t think.

I agree with your assessment on the other clubs. York have an outside chance. New ground, business run well, investment is there, it’s a new area to expand, no competition with football since York City’s fall from grace, good day out, good prospects for the future in terms of results on the field and a young british coach. For me Leigh and Bradford have the strongest bids, regardless of barmpot owner, he invests in the team, it’s already got many SL standard players, great ground, performances deserve it, crowd is good numbers, not bad away following. For me Leigh should be the team to go up.

Agree on London though. Done unreal since Ward and Langley took over! Especially in terms of development.

Yeah mate that Leigh game was mental! Was a bloody great day and great atmosphere. Never forget that! You going next season pal?

With all the rumours/finances floating around, other corporate interest and the shortness of the new tv deal, I think we live in interesting times. This scenario is a possibility. I don’t know the exact timeframe, but over the next 3 year TV deal I think Bulls will be the 12th club. Private equity will come in and relegation will be stopped/postponed. Private equity will take over marketing, they’ll recommend a 14 club league, 2 out of London, York and Toulouse will be invited, the Tv deal for 2024 will be significantly improved, with a french broadcaster, a streaming broadcaster and still some Free to air games. And we’ll probably move back to franchises.

I would like to think so too. However, this appears sensible and well thought out, two things not associated with the management of RL as a sport.

Surely a French TV deal will only occur if Toulouse come up to create a Catalan vs Toulouse rivalry?

Agree with you in terms of the sob story, Im a Leeds Unted fan and that is still being pushed now a 3rd of the way intot he season!

Before all this I was thinking about going next year, always said I wouldnt at Dewsbury just a personal preference and watching a Bradford side outside of Bradford didn't sit well.

Saying that though the way we started the defunct season plus a coupleof signings we have made was definitely making me take to note to go again!

I don't mind a one-off to show the journey and the return as long as it's not shown as a sob story.

To be fair mate I went to the two home games against London and Featherstone and we played really well. Arguably played with more pride that the previous two seasons and the young lads were brilliant. Especially Gallagher and Doyle. Scurr was great off the bench too. I'll probably never stop going haha. Well if you decide to go next season let me know and we'll meet up for a pint mate.

Good luck with the application guy's! Hope you get in!