I think the thinking here is do we need to raise some money in case a buyer comes in but lets says is only prepared/able/willing to cover say 50% of the debts and we need to plug the difference. If this is the case we need all the time we can get but we wouldnt to fall short if a buyer came in but needed some assistance

This is the zone thats between a rock and a hard place. It still going to be a painful transistion whichever way it works out! But at least there is now a way!

The assumption that Bradford will be relegated is very odd. SL clubs have faced the reality that:

1) Nobody is going to bail out the Bulls during this season.

2) They need the Bulls to fulfill fixtures this year, which SL clubs would effectively have to subsidise anyway.

3) They need the Bulls in the competition longer-term.

Comparisons with Wakey and Widnes (who weren't even in SL when they went bust) are spurious at best. SL management at least recognise that the loss of the Bulls would be far, far worse for the competition 9and their own finances) than losing the likes of Wakefield. That's not to disrespect Wakey or to suggest its fair. But it is reality. SL IS a 2-tier competition - the loss of any one of the real big clubs (Wigan, Leeds, Sts etc) would impact far more than losing one of the smaller clubs. As would losing London and now Cats for other reasons.

I'd say the most likely scenario is that SL take ownership and see out this year, then seek an opportunity to sell the club once things have stabilised. That may even have to wait until the next round of franchises are awarded.

Still, whilst I personally applaud the move and think that the Bulls can actually start to look forwards now, I fully expect your site to get flamed from now until the club is sold on by SL.

When i found out what was going to happen, I put it up wondering whether anyone would notice. Nobody did, but there it was

Looking at yesterday's developements in the light of a new day it seems that if the SLE buyout is approved then:

1) Immediate question of will we finish the season answered - yes
2) Urgency to find a new owner other than SLE even more acute and what is the mechanism now BG is out of the way?
3) Some posters seem to suggest if it's not SL then there wont be support for a team or sufficient backing in one of the other leagues?
4) No-one would like to clear the "old debts" - whatever they are £750k, £1m or £1.5m - which as a business proposition is understandable - but if you rephrased the question to would you pay £750k, £1m or £1.5m to stay in SL you might get a different response.
5) The big "condition" - what league would we be in question for any prospective buyer still remains and is clearly linked to point 4)
6) I guess whatever league the team would be in then the RFL would be happy to get some rental income from renting the ground, but again the value of that rent is a function of the league we are in.

It seems that there is some backing for a new "consortium" of business interests and fans, but again who would co-ordinate and is there a mechanism for the fans to "buy" a stake - for example contibute to BB which could then buy a stake in newco? I would put money in if that was an option.

But the key issue I see is that if a credible bid to take out SLE is not put together in the next few months then the team, back office and coaching staff will just be allowed to gradually melt away and there will be no structure to support a team in any of the leagues.

So less immediate jeopardy but even more questions?

Must admit I cannot get my head around what will happen to the historic debt. I just cannot see how a governing body could default on tax debts and I would be very surprised if the other SL clubs would be prepared to effectively take on the liabilities.

Looks like the Championship at best next season. I expect the RFL wil tweak the rules so that there is a reasonably clear pathway back to SL. I dont think they would be doing this just to to make sure we scrape through to the end of the season. They'll want to see the Bulls serve their punishment, but will also want to make sure there is some light at the end of the tunnel. But the task of setting up a new organisation ready to play in the Championship will be immense.

Personally, I would like to see a fans voice on the new BOD (if that ever happens).
Over to you Bullbuilder, Unfortunately i don't have the time to aid it, but financially i would help.
Heres hoping this light at the end of the tunnel isn't followed by a train.

Have they announced the 4 new clubs entering Champ1 in 2013 or have they only announced 3.

Hasn't he already bought it? I thought it was common knowledge that the bid from SLE is just a smokescreen for CaiSLEy

SLE will want to sell the club, and the only way to do that is for the buyer to know that they will remain in SL next year.

You may not have heard, but the RFL will not give any buyer any such assurance. I believe it may have been mentioned before.

I've not had cause to think about this before, but does anyone know if there is a facility on this board to put morons on 'ignore'? To be honest I think I've had more than enough of some.

Profile button at the bottom of their post, then "Add foe".