Doesn't it depend on how much debt we'd be carrying going into the championship?

The Rent is only £72000.
Valley Parade would be tons more.
Its the cost of maintaining Odsal that cuts deep

When it comes to financial matters it's best to consider that you reap what you sow.

Marc Green states that the club is 'commited' to having a full time squad if we do go down this season. He also states that we won't be moving away from Odsal. Coaching candidates include: Glenn Morrison Brian Noble John Kear James Lowes James Lowes has said "It’s obviously a job I’d love to do whether it’s now or in the future. It’s Bradford Bulls – it’s my club.” www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... ord_Bulls/

Marc Green states that the club is 'commited' to having a full time squad if we do go down this season. He also states that we won't be moving away from Odsal. Coaching candidates include: Glenn Morrison Brian Noble John Kear James Lowes James Lowes has said "It’s obviously a job I’d love to do whether it’s now or in the future. It’s Bradford Bulls – it’s my club.” www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... ord_Bulls/

I think it's fair to say that without investment there will be no promotion, though it's also true that without much actual cash going in, the club could still [isurvive[/i, maybe for ever, in the lower divisions.

If there is a serious wish to return to 'former glories' though, the cash input needed rises, indeed all our 'former glories' were achieved at a substantial financial loss -around £500K per annum, according to the published balance sheets at the time, even with our massive crowds and strong shop sales. Though, if you're happy to just be competing, but not necessarily winning anything, y'know, making the play-offs most years, it's then, maybe, possible to run on the 'cost effective' basis without the big spending 'Sugar Daddy'.

It will still cost real money just to achieve this medium level though, and to gain that limited status requires money going in and, at the very least therefore, a short term financial loss.

As has been said already its the cost of maintaining Odsal that's a big expense and one that no other clubs are lumbered with.

I'd hope for a rent reduction and can see us just opening the main stand for games where we don't expect to exceed 5k.

We may survive muddling along but it'll need long term investment to get back to competing in SL. I think we can break even if the business is run properly.

Sorry, but what makes you think bradford are the only club who are responsible for the upkeep of their stadium? Could you clarify the first paragraph for me?

No one is saying they are. However, few clubs have a stadium the like or size of Odsal to maintain

Got no doubt that you guys will be OK.You have some of the most loyal and dedicated fans in SL.
You will receive a parachute payment of just over 700K next season should you be relegated.The salary cap for next year will be 1 million if you have a turnover of 2.5 million then you will be allowed to spend the full cap.
If the money is used wisely then you can assemble a strong squad that will allow you to be dominant.
Once you start winning games then your crowds will grow even bigger.Fans like winning teams and the fact that it will be at Championship level will not deter your large base of loyal fans.

i honestly worry for Bradford. It gives me no pleasure in saying it but i think we could be in the final stages of the long slow death of pro RL in Bradford.

Odsal is a huge millstone for an SL club, it is far too big a weigh to carry in the championship. Bradford will get less TV funding, far less sponsorship, much lower crowds, and lower merchandise sales in the lower leagues, They arent going to have the money to spend on a dominant squad, it will be virtually impossible, without incurring large losses, for them to put on a team better than 12th in SL to get back up.
You also have a squad that needs rebalancing, you will have a players on pretty decent SL level wages, as well as some not so great names who are on far more than championship players. Thats not a criticism, simply a fact of operating at a full time, fully pro level rather than semi-pro.

It will also be virtually impossible for them to run an SL level academy, and even more difficult for them to keep the best prospects from Hudds and Leeds as a lower league club.

Bradford are in a bit of a spiral right now, P+R and the dumbass system which is being implemented is exacerbating it. Marc Green isnt a fan or a white knight who came to rescue Bradford, he is a businessman who is doing the best to cover his investment. He isnt likely to plow money in to rescue the situation.

No-one said the Bulls were the only club with maintenance costs. It's just that the costs of looking after an 'iconic' ground the size of Odsal are way above those of a modern, breeze block and plastic, construction. Odsal with its new 'iconic' status is more akin to a listed building, with costs to match - to be blunt it is a money pit with no bottom.

I don't fully agree with you.

Bradford will no doubt have the largest crowd figure in next seasons championship. A parachute payment will ensure a full time squad.

The marketing should be simple enough as you will no doubt have a winning team, the championship will be broadcast on sky and you will definitely be involved in the end of season 8 team Superleague 2 play offs, which will get huge exposure as it is the first time it's been done.

I think a season in the championship will give the bulls time to breathe after the last few seasons of turmoil. Oh and I am looking forward to our local derby at the shay.

Have to agree that a year out of the inner pages of the papers would be very nice - for the fans as much as the staff. I've always enjoyed visits to Thrum Hall and the Shay [not to mention the 3 pigeons

Bradford may very well have the largest figure in next seasons championship but thats still going to be thousands less than their SL attendance. If Bradford can get 3k averages they will be more than a third more than other championship sides. They will be a good 7k less than last year, and about 9k less than 2012 when they went bust.

The parachute payment is still less than SL TV money.

The SL2 playoffs will get championship huge exposure, not SL huge exposure. Bradford arent pulling in 5 figures for those games lets be honest.

The championship isnt 'a breather' i honestly dont know where this myth came from other than the coincidence of Huddersfield getting relegated and Ken Davy deciding to pump in millions. For Bradford the championship will see huge drops in income from Tv, fans, merchandise and sponsorship, with their biggest expenditure in Odsal staying the same, and their 2nd biggest in playing squad needing to be increased from right now if they are to be better than the worst SL side.