Odsal is definitely the key to the long term health of the Bulls. It’s been a millstone for decades and it seems that potential buyers see it that way too unless it’s value can be unlocked. Unlocking that value is in the hands of the RFL who will want to make sure they don’t sell it to a bunch of chancers that will run the club into the ground and then do what they like with the land.

The devil is in the detail. Bidder will need to provide cast iron assurance they are not a chancer. RFL need a watertight agreement that can’t be wriggled out of. I suspect the delays may be because the bidder isn't able to satisfy the RFL yet...

The way I see it there are three possibilities:

The RFL agrees to sell the lease to the bidder and the club has new owners.
The RFL refuses to sell to the current bidder and the administrator has to look at other bidders that are still interested if you believe what one of them at least has said on social media.
The RFL refuses to sell to the current bidder and the administrator decides other bidders aren’t serious and puts the whole lot into liquidation.

If it’s the third option then there will be no rugby in Bradford in 2017. A new club starting at the bottom would take at least a year to get together. My imagination runs away with me now but I wonder if that’s the Gareth Roberts plan. He moves BPA to Odsal and agrees to finance a new Bulls there too from 2018 in League 1, probably part time, in return he gets the lease.

well at moment it realising a 70k per yr return for them. If bulls dont survive then they lose that income but still have lease whih would they would have to be compensated for if council decided to sell of land for other uses. their only outgoing re odsal is the peppercorn rent to the council.

Maybe if someone (I cant disclose his/her name) accidently leaks the rumour that there is Oil under Odsal - nope, that wont work, they'll dig up the pitch, find some roman ruins and Odsal will remain sealed off for another few years - damn.

I think the sticking point is whether the whole of the proceeds should be divided equally between the 12 S L clubs or should there be some extra cash for them.

Roman ruins? Well it is "a natural amphitheatre".

There's almost certainly oil under odsal. in the drums it was flytipped in when it was landfill before stadium was built. its next to the asbestos and nic.

Isn't fracking the thing at the mo'?

As an outsider and Hull KR living in East Leeds I can definately say West Yorkshire Sport on Radio Leeds is 97% football with the occasional 5 minute comment about RL. Radio Blunderside may be laughable but at least RL gets more coverage. Radio Leeds prefers to talk about non league footie than turn over more time to RL.

Back on topic, the only issue I have is that the owners have to buy Odsal for a similar figure they bought it for. If they give it away, the other clubs will demand similar help if they get into difficulty. Could you see the RFL buying Belle Vue?

Hope this gets sorted soon as I am looking forward to what could be a cracking season opener against you guys. Our signings look even stronger now, but the Bulls may be motivated to prove a point this season.

Odsal stadium for whatever purpose, based on levels of support, will never be a viable facility in it's present form.

Eureka!
I've worked out the solution to our problem; why didnt we think of it sooner; its obvious; its been proven to work because I've seen it on telly.

Ok, we all need to believe in the spirit of the Bulls; and the Bullometer will fill up and the Bulls will be saved.

SO we need to sing loud and clear.

I'll start us off.....(clears throat).......

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT
YOU BETTER NOT CRY

(come on everyone - it might work - if we believe...)

IIRC Lease was bought by RFL from central funds, NOT SL. so any distribution of funds would be split amongst all member clubs not just the 12 members of SL. I'd expect any funds to back into central pot to help make up shortfall in next round of sport england funding

Agreed. Since the Council stopped paying for the upkeep we've been on the downward spiral. A SL Bulls couldn't afford it so there's no way a championship club (or phoenix club in League 1) could either.

Even SL clubs with new grounds don't perform well as they need to be propped up by their owners, although that takes less propping up than if you're in an old stadium.