Don’t know who you’re talking to but you hear wrong. The university is doing ok these days, it’s increased student numbers year on year and has increased staff numbers in recent times. Bradford being one of the cheaper places in the area to live has also helped it during the cost of living crisis. Now they aren’t going to be buying up swathes of land in the area and are subject to the same energy increases we all are but they are going ok. Regarding its sporting links they recently upgraded its partnership with Bradford City, becoming their principle back of shirt sponsor for the next 3 seasons. The Bulls have been approached previously to discuss link ups but there hasn’t been much appetite to take it further from the clubs point of view.

And if Woodhall fields are up for sale it isn’t the uni selling them, they sold them to Leeds city council about 6 years ago. Now they are an organisation that is skint so it wouldn’t shock me of they are trying to offload them again.

Didn't know Woodhall had been sold to Leeds.

My info from Bradford Uni comes from a variety of staff there who are very demoralised.

Working in Bradford can do that to a person.

The issue at the uni stems from very poor leadership from the previous vice chancellor.

Having worked for that previous VC before (not at Bradford) I can sympathise with that. However, the new VC and leadership team seem to have a good reputation across the Yorkshire network of Uni's.

I am also lead to believe that the financial performance at UoB is pretty good of the back of an increase in student numbers and positive faculty changes. They are also working up their next uni strategy so this would seem like the most suitable time to be having a discussion about any collaboration opportunities.

Talking of loans etc for buying stadiums leases, what is the situation with Wakefield and the loan from Wakefield Council? Seem to recall there being some sort of investigation into the sale of Belle Vue but it seemed to go quiet? Do Wakefield still owe the council the money?

Quote ="Bully_Boxer"Talking of loans etc for buying stadiums leases, what is the situation with Wakefield and the loan from Wakefield Council? Seem to recall there being some sort of investigation into the sale of Belle Vue but it seemed to go quiet? Do Wakefield still owe the council the money?'" Trinity are paying the council, the council can call in the loan is trinity default on payment. No action was taken against Trinity by the NCA, but Manni Hussain had to pay them several millions of £ under the unexplained wealth rule. https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/spor ... al-2891999

Quote ="Bully_Boxer"Talking of loans etc for buying stadiums leases, what is the situation with Wakefield and the loan from Wakefield Council? Seem to recall there being some sort of investigation into the sale of Belle Vue but it seemed to go quiet? Do Wakefield still owe the council the money?'" Trinity are paying the council, the council can call in the loan is trinity default on payment. No action was taken against Trinity by the NCA, but Manni Hussain had to pay them several millions of £ under the unexplained wealth rule. https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/spor ... al-2891999

Yes it’s fair to say the last VC wasn’t up to the task. But things have improved markedly over the last 4 to 5 years to a point where they are in a pretty decent place. A link up would be beneficial for both parties but the Bulls have seemed lukewarm to the idea for some reason.

I just don't get the Bulls thinking, not the council for not trying to put this partnership together.

Universities will invest capital in projects if they see great potential. An Odsal sports campus would create a stream of income to the university, the local community would benefit from increased spend from students in the local area and the council/Bulls would benefit from the facilities, increased commercial income opportunities and joint partnership opportunities with the uni (work placements, experience opportunities etc)... win-win all round.

From my experience the most obvious opportunities are often overlooked and it does seem like this is a huge one being missed.

Do Universities still adhere to the Wednesday afternoon agreement whereby there are no lectures, seminars or tutorials in that time thus freeing students for participation in team sports?

In general, yes that does still happen. Most universities take part in BUCS (British University & College Sport) leagues and cup which for the majority take place on Wednesdays.

Some university departments will try and sneak lab sessions in which makes things a bit tricky for students but on the whole the vast majority will play fixtures on Wednesdays and train the rest of the week.

The Stadium and indeed our onfield performance need improving to sneak up, or stop us from sliding down the ISG rankings.
As you can be assured that every other club will be scrambling to improve on what they can improve on..
We have scraped "The" 14th spot that would see you in SL should they go to 14 teams, but its by no means secured for when the grading actually counts next year,
I would be seriously looking at a top 4 finish in 2024 if I was us.
How you bring in a multi million pound stadium deal when you nor the council has a pot to pi$$ in is quite another conundrum. which Nige and Hirsty will need to make happen pretty damn sharpish.

Bradford University playing at Odsal Stadium today.

After reading this I'm wondering who now has the lease? https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/odsal-st ... ure-84540/

After reading this I'm wondering who now has the lease? https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/odsal-st ... ure-84540/

That's all very non-commital isn't it? Depends on the sale then next paragraph they're using 'new owner' like it's a done deal?

V poorly written article.

Why does anyone ever give any credence to things posted on SARL? It should be prefixed by YCB - the first four letters of the whole being an acronym of a John McEnroe "catchphrase."

T&A reported that Knight Frank (the company handling the sale of the lease) had had a number of expressions of interest but nobody had got as far as a due diligence test.

So the lease is still held by the RFL.

[urlhttps://content.knightfrank.com/property/ldl012337943/brochures/en/ldl012337943-en-brochure-5b113b8a-9aa3-4406-acfb-4ee2dbbb3ca4-1.pdf[/url

Here’s the brochure link.
Headlines:
Value £750k
Current income approx £125k
Rateable value £105k
Length of lease left: 129 years, peppercorn rent.
The Foundation, shop and ticket offices are not included in the lease on the map provided.

'Prominent Car Dealership Premises' - even the sales agents are woefully amateur when the RFLs involved

That stock car track looks even worse from the air. The stuff's everywhere - it looks terrible on the terracing and i didn't realise it was all over the car park behind the coral stand.

What an eyesore

Looking at the mess Salford are in at the moment, we'd be absolutely mad to go to Valley Parade. Nice stadium and we'd prob get enough points to get into SL. But long term, the rent could cripple us. Rather just stay at Odsal even if that means Championship rugby

The devil is in the detail of the contract wherever the club plays. I'd be quite happy to go to VP provided the contract is fair and watertight.

VP is 13 metres too short. The minimum pitch requirement is 88 metres length plus 6 metres each in-goal. Plus 3 metres between in goal and barriers. That equates to a total pitch length of 116m. VP is 103m. I suppose we could have a back-office conversation with the RFL to ask if they'd authorise our permanent home being significantly undersized, and we'd then know if was even an option.

The gap to the barriers is a safeguarding issue which I wouldn't really want to tinker with. When we play at footy grounds you see our lads hurtling into places they should never be near. That can't be right.