The salient bit is:

"...and, seizing the opportunity to have the 'Vark make a total ass (pun intended) of himself on the steps of the town hall, the RFL, the Council and the Bulls are delighted to confirm that the 'Vark was totally utterly and completely...wrong! They look forward to him providing entertainment to tourists visiting Centenary Square at his earliest opportunity"

I think that just about covers the essential points?

In all honesty I struggle to believe the highlighted bit.

Yeh seen it now. And of course I was right, not wrong.

As I assumed, it isn't what it seems. Adey knows more about this sort of stuff than i do, but it is already clear that the Council have not just sold Odsal to the RFL, but there has been some form of three way deal involving the Bulls.

One stated result is that we have seemingly now agreed to pay "market value rental to the RFL to play their home fixtures at Odsal".

Now however anyone might want to spin that, one thing is for sure and that is that the market value of renting Odsal Stadium ain't one peppercorn.

So, I am thinking if we have agreed to pay something approaching a market rent, wouldn't the corollary of that be that we have in turn been released from our millstone of maintaining the place?

Secondly, what about the covenants with the Council that meant we paid a penalty if we moved out within a certain period? That must have gone, and been replaced with a formal lease between us and the RFL?

How long is our new lease?

If we no longer have to pay for the cost of upkeep (shurely we wouldn't have agreed to up to a "market rent" AND agreed a full repairing stylee of lease?) does that mean we are now suddenly a tad more flush than we previously were?

I think there is probably a lot of code in the wording of the press release. But, if I read at least some of the code right, we are more secure now than we were before this happened. Quite possibly, very much more secure. That has to be very good news.

Does this mean that the Bulls are no longer "tied" to Odsal the same way they were when it was council owned? Does this mean the RFL are now responsible for maintaining Odsal?

Also, surely from a licencing perspective, the RFL can't penalise the Bulls on the stadium criteria when they own it?

Sorry but it just doesnt seem right somehow, don't get me wrong great I think for the Bulls but I can see a lot of pi**ed off other clubs and supporters.

Guess you will be guarenteed a franschise as well forever, not like the RFL could refuse on the ground issue now.

Well done to Bradford Board for brokering this I would say.

Also - has the RFL purchased the freehold, or instead has the long lease been assigned to them with the Bulls' Consent?

The particularly good news, if I read some of the code right, is that the RFL clearly wants to see Bulls stay in business and in SL.

wow, quite surprised to see Roger doubted (again) even though he's been right with all his predictions so far.

not sure what to make of this, will this hinder development of Odsal? Is our long term future still at Odsal? I think I'm pleased at the moment.

I can see other clubs on the face of it being peeved but I don't see what difference it makes to franchising, the ground will either meet the criteria or it won't, the identity of the owner is irrelevant surely, it has no bearing on the criteria.


You can say that again.

Oh and lest we forget, another large feather in Rog's cap.

The devil is in the detail. Who's now responsible for improving the ground? If we fund improvements ourselves do we then get rewarded with increased rent as well? A lot more detail needed before we know if this good or bad news IMO.

Hence the forum I guess.

I don't think we doubt Roger. I think we doubt that the story is as straightforward as "the RFL has bought Odsal". This in no way denigrates the OP revelation which was on the money whatever the actual details of the deal may turn out to be.

The [sizeROFL[/size STADIUM, anyone?

Well to say I am surprised is an understatement...

I am interested to learn the long term plan now, whether that will be revealed anytime soon is another matter. If we have managed to find an escape route from the costs of maintaining Odsal and are now paying a flat rate of rental, that must surely help us as a business?

This should however secure the survival of one of the best supported clubs in SL. That has to be in all of RL interests?

ORFL seems more appropriate.