Quote Deano G="Deano G"There's a lot of explaining that needs to be done by the RFL, and a lot of questions to be answered. Here's just a few:
What was the purchase price?
What is the rent payable?
What obligations have the RFL taken on to maintain or redevelop the ground?
What are the RFL's plans and aspirations for Odsal in the medium/long term?
Why haven't the RFL intervened to save other SL grounds from being lost to developers? (If that was the purpose of this).
If any financial subsidy, direct or indirect, is being given to Bradford, why ahs that not available to other SL clubs in the past and will it now be available to the likes of Wakefield and Castleford.
And just a couple of corporate governance points (though it's hard to imagine anyone at HQ will even have heard of the concept
):
How did the RFL deal with conflict of interest issues when approving this deal?
How will the RFL deal with conflict of interest issues in relation to Bradford going forward? In particular, will it hand over the licensing system to an entirely separate body? If not, how will it ensure that it is seen to be independent?
The lack of transparency from the RFL would be astonishing, if it weren't for the track record of those in charge of the game in this country.'"
Why should the RFL reveal the fine details of its commercial property deals in the public domain?
Where were you asking these kinds of questions when the RFL acquired Cougar Park, Spotland and various amateur grounds for their property portfolio? Or does the fact it's a ground used by a SL club somehow make a difference?
The RFL doesn't have to tell you anything, diddly squat. You're not involved in the running of the organisation, you're not one of the member clubs, you're just an end user of the product generated by its members.
I never cease to be amazed by the number of RL fans who think that they are entitled to know everything that happens behind the scenes at the governing body. Do they wander around Asda questioning how much Wal Mart paid for the land and whether they offer their farmers a fair price for milk?
