Quote: Pumpetypump "20 years ago there were people on here lamenting at the death of the game, and I thought they were a bit boring and a lot bonkers. In retrospect perhaps they will have been disenfranchised fans of clubs below SL who were denied a proper pathway to the top flight.
I used to be someone who loved the game first and loved Bradford 2nd. Even throughout our fall from grace the whole sport was very dear to me because the whole parochial thing of hating fax, Keighley, Leeds and Huddersfield wasn't really my cup of tea. But now I find myself being one of the doom and gloom brigade. I don't watch SL, I couldn't really tell you many players or who is where in the table. I am out of love with the game and bored of the product. It shocks me that when England play there will be the odd player I've never heard of. If that sounds weird to you reading it, I assure you it feels weird to me too.
I am a level-headed man that is now switched-off and sadly thinks we are in a death-spiral. I've become the very loon I used to mock. Sadly I think there are many thousands like me. I don't need Bradford in SL to make me love the sport again, but I need vision, strategic direction and growth.'"
I think much of the "doom and gloom" actually cam about because of SL, which instantly alienated many fans.
First of all there were the fans of "relegated" clubs, many of whom have never come back and this was followed by franchising, which again hacked of fans from clubs who didn't make the cut.
Your club (and mine) have suffered financial "situations" and then we have "the covid years", which have been and will continue to be damaging to the sport.
And, finally, we have the spectre of yet another major change to the league structure, which aside from the reduced Sky monies, is needed like a hole in the head.
FWIW, if Bradford were to make it back into SL and start inning some games, I'm sure that you may be tempted to have another peek at the "product" but, the game is not in great shape and whoever does the thinking and planning for the game, really needs to step up and have a plan as to how to use the delayed World Cup to re energise the sport.
