With the right ownership Bradford could be a force in the game again surely?
For all the strife of recent years there must be potential to tap back into fan base given a decent team well run? I would certainly rather see them helped and in SL than a soulless franchise full of jobbers playing under a flag of convenience. Reading the latest reports of TWPs set-up they will be gone anyway.

I would love to see Bradford back in the top flight! Cracking history attracting Class players in the past, Run by a few Idiots over the last 10 or so years but would love to see them back.

The governing bodies don't come out of this looking good at all


The club has been in regular dialogue with the Rugby Football League and Super League over the matter, after being told by the Home Office they cannot deal directly with them. '"

Strangely this mythical owner hasn't appeared during any of the numerous opportunities there have been for someone to pick them up very cheap over the last few years.......

All of this obviously points to scrapping relegation from SL this year. Whilst as a Rovers supporter I realise we still have to prove we can stay up I just want a decision either way. Plus, if Tony gets the boys playing we might be OK regardless. It would be seen as unfair on promotion chasers if this is done to safeguard Toronto.

But, the Toronto VISA issue is of course completely different and a legal issue. I would hope that an answer can be found at the Home Office, however, the fact that the RFL official statement called the Toronto statement 'unhelpful' might mean that they are indeed going to stop any relegation this season.

With the right ownership is a massive qualifier.

What sort of help would you like Bradford given to return to SL, and when would it end? Like most clubs, without a significant amount of money being poured in each year, they’d be cannon fodder in SL. There are other reasons as well, but that isn’t too far from what we’ve been in recent years [iwith[/i an owner who pours in hundreds of thousands.

I can’t see it being a suggestion that’d go down to well with other clubs. The attractive thing about Toronto for SL clubs is that they haven’t needed a handout from SL and don’t take a slice of the Sky pie. S’all about money Ateod and, realistically, fan base is maybe the third or fourth most important factor - within the margins we see in SL.

People said the same about Leeds United FC and finally the Sleeping Giant will return to top flight.Granted Soccer is a different animal but several failed regimes couldn't get a return on various levels of investments.
RL has given dispensations for various franchises/mergers etc so not that far fetched a stretch if as expected relegation is indeed scrapped again?
As mentioned above this mythical buyer for Bradford still hasn't materialised but i hope it does eventually. I just stated my belief that some lower league clubs would be preferable to TWP .

And I'm unanimous in this.

Well they were probably going to finish bottom of SL anyway

It would make sense to replace the bulls for Toronto in the superleague, and talks are going on

Those dispensations haven’t always turned out well and have, imo, bred resentment and distrust. However, I agree/admit that it wouldn’t be without precedent.

I think the best thing is to let it happen ‘naturally’. If Bradford can stabilise and rebuild to return to the top flight, then great. Or any number of other heartlands clubs with proud traditions. However, ‘natural’ under the current model almost certainly means a rich owner spending big (by RL standards) and without that all our arguments and preferences are pretty much moot. Argyle has poured in the money and Toronto have earned their promotions. It might prove to built on sand, but a lot of clubs have long-standing question marks about their sustainability - now more then ever.

If they fail to properly compete during the rest of the season then they may be charged with bringing the game into disrepute and could ultimately be relegated to Championship One.

OK mate I'll take that, you know your stuff, but I do remember them giving Saints a run for their money.........