Probably has something to do with the underhand way the RFL acquired the lease, by snatching it before the administrator was called in years ago for a clandestine loan they made to Bradford without informing any other member clubs. The RFL are trying to recoup the (loan) by charging a high rent and passing all the maintenance costs onto the tenant which are astronomical on an ancient stadium..

Indeed. And distorted the league with their on-field success built on selling their off-field future.

The figure I had in my head was £4m, but yes you are correct.
Caisley et al chose to spend the ring fenced sinking fund monies on the squad and 'Bullmania' rather than keep it aside for its intended purpose - the upkeep of the stadium.
I don't know how the council came up with the figure, or if we'd used it properly whether it would have been enough to last this long anyway, but this is certainly one of the first steps in the gradual decline of the club.

I'm sure the Iestyn Harris saga didn't help either, and again we have Caisley to thank for that.
This assh*le actually had the gall to blame the supporters on his way out, too. Charming.

A large chunk (£3m?) was used to build the Coral stand iirc

Wasn't his plan to increase spending to gain more success that would lead to increasing crowds (and income)? Subsequent owners appear to have adopted a similar strategy and yet it's all the RFL's fault..........

I believe his actual plan was develop the stadium which lead us to moving out for two years whilst all plans and tests were done. We then got planning permission from the council which then suddenly got referred to the govt because of issues raised. The govt then through out the consent and the whole lot went down the toilet. IRC correctly the MP that kyboshed it all was a Bradford MP and the guy that raised the issue was a Ken Morrison. Then people ask why the city of Bradford is in the state it is.