Spending lots on the academy is maybe a bit of a luxury.

For a club like Bradford, where the club is being continually outbid for the graduates of its own academy by other clubs, often right at the point where they are about to become first team squad members and with no benefit to the Bulls, it is maybe a too high a price to pay?

Once you stop having an academy you're basically admitting you're a second tier club IMO.

I'm happy with supporting a Bradford team in the 2nd or 3rd tier. I just don't see where they would play. It seems to be between either Odsal (too expensive) and VP (prob also too expensive and unlikely to attract fans from club's traditional areas).

Our academy was assessed as one of the top 3 or 4 in terms of infrastructure & coaching structure & welfare etc.

It's one of our success stories of recent times.

The only reason players have been leaving recently is the rest of the clubs finances.

When Davy took over we were playing at the new stadium so you're wrong on that.

Just that part eh?



With the best will in the world without Davy at best Hudders be like Leigh. A second tier club playing in a decent stadium.

Possibly but we're not, we are a well run SL club who now has started to challenge for honours. I'd say a quick fix over 18 years isn't a quick fix. We've come from the 2nd division, got relegated, won promotion again then year on year improved our playing staff, academy and on field performances.

You've already got an academy so no real outlay is needed and if you were to go down going off the players you've brought through in the past fast track them through to the first team instead of relying on established high earners. Don't know too much about the rental agreement with the RFL over Odsal but I can't see them pricing you out of playing there.

OK can we finally rule out VP as the playing surface is not long enough. Similarly any bid from the owners of City would mean the Bulls will still be playing at Odsal. And by the way the playing surface at VP is not big enough. We got special dispensation to move to VP short term while tests were done at Odsal regarding the proposed development. It was only allowed short term because the playing surface is not big enough.

Don't know if I mentioned it but the pitch at VP is too small. Thought I'd better add that.

Strange when I lived in Birkenshaw I paid my council tax to Bradford council but i bow to your knowledge. As rugby clubs Birky play in the Bradford cup Drig don't.

I hear ya, so moving to VP would be viable then. Good news.

My ex-boss used to live in Birkenshaw and he paid to Leeds, so I guess, as one of those ribbon type places, it straddles both?

In that situation the lease reverts back to the council.