So if we start at a base level of having fans think we are already unduly favoured by the RFL (which we know is a load of balls but others believe it), then just imagine how popular we'd be to be parachuted into SL. And then because we got reduced money and are still playing out of a 19th century dickensian dump, we go bust again. We'd never recover from that.

Haters are motivators. The view of a few Wakey and Fax rlfans who have enjoyed our demise shouldn't disguise us from the fact that SL has declined since our collapse. There aren't enough well supported clubs producing decent level players.

However, unless we are going to VP I don't see what the point would be making an application. Odsal has failed. Talks of a new ground are just that and the changes to the pitch at VP would be a fraction of the cost of a new stadium (which isn't going to be built). Dewsbury is a non starter as is Horsfall. I watch City a bit and dire doesn't describe it. The two clubs should come together. It can't get much worse for either of them. VP or don;t bother

Our bid is going to be based on playing at Odsal. Negotiations are close to a deal. Bulls will be back at Odsal next year whichever league we are in.

So even if we don't get a SL place, we get a huge financial millstone instead. Ace.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're going back to our spiritial home. I just wish it wasn't going to ruin us. Again.

I have no sense of what your average fans thinks of Odsal these days. Personally the glory days are so long ago now that the affection is literally all gone and I just view it as a millstone. Doesn't anyone fancy me in starting to build a boutique stadium on the Richard Dunn site? Feath fans erected two new stands so surely we can crack on. Admittedly I'm just a Civil Servant so would be mainly watching and providing press releases, but some of you lot must be more practical?

I understand the fear of going back to Odsal with the costs involved. But each year we are out of the city, the harder it is to get back and we really could end up in the wildernesses of just playing at Dewsbury. Fans can put up with it for a season or two, but long term the crowds would fall of the edge of the cliff. Hopefully the rumour of stock cars returning could help off-set some of the costs.

If it's a choice of Dewsbury or Odsal then, yes it has to be Odsal but I really don't want to go back there without some assurances that improvements will be made, such as a roof on the terracing, decent toilets with soap and warm water and a proper supporters bar with real ale in proper glasses.

As for Super League, yes I long to see my team back in the big time but if it is through getting voted in then no thanks. For me it should be London, if not then Leigh or Toulouse. If we are going back to licensing then Salford, Huddersfield and Wakefield wouldn't be in.

Not sure how return of stock cars would help with costs. It might help with maintenance costs but would imagine RFL would still charge us the same rent (other clubs would play hell if they dropped it signifcantly) and charge stock cars same again. Might have been different if we still held the sub lease and were sub letting again to stock cars.

I'm not sure what current status of lease is TBH. When we left Odsal Chalmers said we were at end of the lease, But the recent adverts for open cinema were talking about 'in conjunction with Bradford Bulls' as if we still held a lease.

One possibility I thought of is if stock cars re-instate the pits where the Southbank is, and then the Southbank was moved onto the away terrace. Reduces capacity of the ground by approx 10k but also halves the amount of terracing that needs maintaining. 15k capacity would be plenty for forseeable future and would reduce maintenance costs significantly I would imagine.

I'd guess we've forfeited the lease by not paying this year, though I'm pretty sure the lease was for for quite s few more years. Guessing again, but I'd say that leaves us in the same position as any other business which defaults on a lease due to being unable to pay. Which seems to be that you leave owing nothing but lose the use of the facilities; little point in the owner of the head lease suing due the blood from a stone get-out clause.

Being nothing more than a fan I know nothing about the finances, but it would seem likely that every club is going through a 'ropey phase' right now, and personally IF, and that's a supersize IF, SL offered us the position without a fair shake of the money that every other club gets, then I'd tell them where to go.

Nobody is mentioning the Mirror article about reduced funding. I have been disgusted at the treatment of Toronto regarding funding and even their demand for Catalans to guarantee money to be alowed into the chalenge cup. The SL clubs think of themselves and nothing else. The Mirror story may not be true but if it is then that is not fair.
If the new club is only to get just over half the funding then leave me out. I have become disilusioned with RL after 45 years of loving the Northern and lately the Bulls to the point I have now cancelled Sky sports as it was only taken for RL which a few years ago would never have been considered. I find SL boring and predictable and if we join it with half the income and a still run down delapidated stadium then no thanks - but best of luck.
I think the Bulls will be looked upon favourably by the other 11 clubs due to the cash they will get at the turnstiles but lets not have another season where we are punished financially before the season kicks off.
If Sky are insisting of 12 clubs then all championship clubs must say now that it must be 12 equal payments or go take a hike.

100% the Championship clubs should boycott this arrangement. Presumably the SL clubs will ask for proof of £X million to prevent an administration mid season. That begs the question who is behind Nigel as our squad is 6-8 proven SL players to stand a chance of finishing 11th. The move back to Odsal and entry into SL looks like a minimum £1million pound being produced from somewhere. So er.... Where?

how much was Nigels golden handshake from RFL again

Problem with championship clubs boycotting if they don't give an equal share to 12th club is there are 1 or 2 clubs with cashed up owners who can afford to make up the shortfall so can't see them joining boycott.

Is there actually any guarantee that there's a promotion spot up for grabs at end of 2021 season when sturcture changes?. There was this year but not sure its set in stone next year. Can see a few clubs thinking its better to be in SL as an incumbent when structure changes in case they remove promotion and go back to licensing.

This is a genuine question as a Fax fan that didn't enjoy your demise. I spoke to a ex Bulls chairman a few years back and he was very clear about the fact that Bradford simply could not afford to play out of Odsal due to maintanance costs along with other upkeep costs and said the best thing for them would be to move out of that stadium. Now we have a good idea that not a lot has changed over those years and Odsal is in need of more than a bit of a touch up so I just wonder why Bradford seem to be getting rail roaded in to going back to play in a stadium that they can't afford to play in?

Why indeed. You don't have to be the sort of person to be in to conspiracy theories to think the shenanigans surrounding Odsal have been, and still are very odd. As you say, the hole in the ground needs investment to pass a safety certificate, and then a whole lot more to make it sustainably affordable going forward, and fit for the 21st century. Maybe I'm missing something but people pinning their hope on the return of stock cars and that sort of thing seems far-fetched. That will bring in pennies compared to what the place needs.

That's exactly right Pumpy.
There's no sense in us paying to "do up Odsal" only to be left with an almighty mortgage to pay, plus the ongoing costs, with our reduced income and underprepared team. I don't see the logic in anything coming out of the club with regard to SL at the moment. One of us is on a different planet, whether it's the board or me I really don't know, but it's not me who's had a skinfull I do know that...can't speak for anyone else!