Inventing your own myth there

How much?

Isn't it the case that Supporters Trust actually advised against raising money to pay the clubs debts and that a buyer came in and came to an agreement with the creditors.

And you still came bottom which the Bulls never have. Your complaints about the Bulls possibly, and against the advice of many experienced supporters (me included) going into SL is allegedly premised on the arbitrary nature of the RL's rules which means they can do what they like. Well you finished bottom and weren't relegated and the other clubs weren't promoted on merit either.

Thanks mate, just blows my mind that people on here genuinely think the RFL have 'helped' over the years. They would have helped if they stuck to their own rules regarding liquidation etc. And if people think SKY are controlling the game then they are delusional. SKY may say to SL we want to show a 12 team comp. Everything else is down to SL and the RFL. £40million is pocket change to SKY and that's what our current TV deal is. If they genuinely cared they would just give the same deal next time (technically might be lower in todays money in terms of inflation etc) but yet they are giving a reduced deal. It's down to the SL and RFL how that money is then distributed. SKY hold the rights to Champ and League 1 yet only show Summer Bash and Million Pound Game. Why not a big regular season game? End of the day, SKY's interests are in Football, NFL, Cricket and F1 as they are more lucrative and have their own dedicated channels. RL is just an afterthought unfortunatley.



The thing is, these days we don't have a [ilarge[/i fanbase. We have a faithful base of support which happens to just be bigger than a lot of Champ clubs and some SL sides. But it's far from large. In 2019 Widnes had a fair few crowds bigger than ours, albeit we did have a 6k and a few 5k crowds before a 7k crowd for the 'last game at Odsal'. Even Leigh had a couple of 5k crowds. When they were in SL in 2017 Leigh regularly got 6k-7k crowds with a couple that were 8k-9k. Their lowest I think was like 4,950 against Wakey. Arguably in terms of fans Widnes and Leigh would be good shouts. Not sure how they both travelled though in all fairness. The thing is, the track record of Elstone, SL and the RFL is that they never think things through. Everything seems to be geared to the short term gains. So it wouldn't surprise me if they parachuted in Bradford for 2021. Clubs get money for away crowds. Bradford get a few games on air. Bradford vs Leeds is back three times. Maybe 4. Money makers, cash cows. Then Bradford finish bottom and go down.

I agree with you that maybe the SL chairmen aren't that stupid. But they have proven in the past that they are that greedy that they may just see Bradford as a way to boost their finances from the gate and gain money from the reduced central finding that Bradford would have to 'sacrifice' for the 12th SL spot. Who knows what the people running the Bulls are like? We don't really know much, just like Hood, Khan, Green, Moore, Chalmers and Lowe. We didn't know what they were going to be like. Everyone liked Khan and Green. Yes, under Green we were relegated (poor squad) yet had one of the best seasons in 2015 and nearly got promoted again but lost to Wakefield. It wasn't until after that it was revealed he was a right crook. Chalmers said all the right things, built us up from League 1, got Kear in (a masterstroke tbf) everyone loved him except SL chairmen, then after he'd gone it was revealed he didn't have money. Didn't pay pensions etc.

All I 'know' about Wood is that he pretty much chose the name [iBlue Sox[/i for Halifax which went down like a lead balloon. Then when he was Chief Executive didn't they get relegated, come under all sorts of financial troubles? The as head of RFL he obviously didn't do a great job, got paid off. Don't have a clue what he's doing as CEO of International Rugby League. So not a great track record. Yet has been allowed to take over the Bulls. Sawyer to be fair I think has done a good job with Dewsbury but he'll had over to Wood soon. Who again, doesn't have money?



I hope there is a restructure in RL. In my opinion there needs to be. But when it happens. We need to stick with it. For the past 11 years we have chopped and changed systems. 14 team SL. One up, one down. Playoff system for SL as it makes money and the GF is the biggest event of the year, 1st in Championship goes up. I understand that this has 'failed' in the past as teams have come up and gone back down and gone bust. But that's down to the individual club to not do that. It's only fair to reward on field success. Expansion can come later to make it a 16 team game ala NRL if we can.

The only way I would accept Bradford taking SL. Is if they have had this guarantee. One year reduced funding (unfortunately this will be non-negotiable, it shouldn't happen regardless of the team, the 'pie' should be shared equally), whipping boys but at the end there will be no relegation for you. Then for 2022, two more teams will join the SL (maybe top 2 in 2021 Champ, or top 1 plus 1 'expansion' like York/Toulouse). Then 2022 features relegation and promotion. I do see your point about Wood organizing Bradford to go up, just to come back down and I sincerely hope your right.

Sorry for the long post guys! I just find it mental that a 12th spot opens in the top division and it should be a time for excitement, ambition, teams wanting that spot. It should be a fair crack at the top level. An open and clear plan for the future and instead we have worry, teams not wanting to apply. A disadvantage to the team coming up. An outsider looking in would genuinely think the SL is an 'old boys' club and very greedy/self serving. And in my own opinion it's an absolute disgrace that TWO clubs voted for the 12th team to have even less money (£800,000 I believe) than they are getting. Think that on it's own shows which teams are struggling and are scared for their place.

Oh dear
You are still crying over the MPG defeat to Trinity, a game that was an integral part of the structure at that time, where despite Trinity being mickey poor, you (Bradford) still couldn't beat them and we had the infamous James Lowes "dummy spit" after the game.
Sounds like you want those rules changing too, to help Bradford get back into SL.

FWIW it was an awful system and I'm glad that it's gone.

I totally agree about the RFL and it's ability to run the show "properly" and no doubt, just as I stated previously, this could very well end up in the courts.
When the decision o the 12th club is finally made, there will be 7 (now 6) very unhappy clubs and their supporters.

For me, Toulouse offer something different and Fev are the "rightful" candidates, having been losing finalists last season.
Leigh also look to be a "solid" candidate.

I guess we will have to wait and see but, The RFL and SL have seemingly found a way to alienate huge numbers of RL fans and at a time when we need every last one of them and that's before the TV deal puts another nail in the RL coffin.

We could get rid of Elstone and share his "costs" to some of the lower league clubs, after all, it doesn't look like he will be improving on the previous TV deal (understatement)

Tbf as a Bradford fan that was a gutting loss. If that happened to you it would have stung too. But I don't get the use of this game to insult Bradford ("Wakefield were mickey poor and you still couldn't beat us"icon_wink.gif. Considering we were a Championship side, you were SL, it was pretty much yours to loose. Also you'd recruited like mad in the build up to the playoffs (Locke, Tansey, Sio, Mullally, Smith, Tupou, Moore) to ensure survival. Don't get me wrong we brought in Dane Neilsen. But wow never seen a club react the way Wakey did because you knew you'd be relegated if you didn't do anything. The 3 games you won in Super 8's was against Champ teams and you lost the dead rubber to Sheffield. You'd smashed us 48-18 in the 2nd week so when we played the £1million game, again, it was yours to loose. And you nearly blew it big time against a Bradford side who weren't great that day. If you'd have gone down that day after spending all that money, you could well have been in Bradford's predicament. Sounds like the rule changes that year (to include a bottom 4 qualifier) saved Wakefield. The structure the season before would have seen you down. Sport can be that fickle sometimes. But fair play, you survived and even thrived for a while. Loved the Fifita signing.

I don't think anyone wants the rules changing to allow Bradford back in. Well the fans don't anyway. Only ones that are mentioning that Bradford really are the SL chairmen who want us back and the likes of Carney etc. I certainly don't want SL if it's just going to be a poison chalice.



Correct, although tbf it did throw up some great games. All the £1million games have been great and was good to see us beat Salford and Leigh in 2015.'"

Agreed. There will need to be very clear reasons as to why the 12th club have been chosen above everybody else. And also clarification on how they proceed. If the 12th club is there for cannon fodder, there's a problem. If the 12th club is the last before SL 'closes shop' there's a problem.

I'd agree with you here. Although I'd argue at the moment Leigh have got the squad on paper to potentially survive which is why I can't see SL clubs letting them in.

Agree with the alienation of fans and agree on Elstone. The man has failed in everything he has done and if the rumors are true about a lower SKY deal then he has essentially killed the game off at Champ/League 1.'"

TBF that's what Lowes was saying and he was right too. No one in that ground enjoyed their day and no wakefield fan (i bumped into anyway) came out of the ground happy as if they'd won some sort of final. Everyone i spoke to was just relieved.

Not sure what that game has to do with this thread though. There was a vote instigated by the Superleague clubs, the behaviour and comments of some superleague chairman was (IMO) below the belt, a number of championship and league one clubs were bullied into voting for it (a lot voted of their own free will). The thinking behind it being that superleague was the jewel in the crown, that brings in the TV rights and should be protected at all costs from financial meltdown.

The upshot of it is that as of 2022 Championship and League one clubs are likely to forego central funding because of a reduced deal, All well and good if the Championship and League one clubs were aligned to a league format and governing body that promoted the lower leagues and helped them sell their own TV rights. Short of a split that's not possible.

I don't think that's fair. Would I be saying that if we were sat at the top table? Probably not, but that doesn't make it right.

Indeed forgive me. I thought this thread was to do with the new Sky deal! But by all means feel free to preach on about the Bulls. Now do you see the point?

Like I’ve always said, this is what happens when the haves are dumbed downed to the have nots.

Ah I see where I have gone wrong. I replied to claims that Bradford were ‘helped’ by the RFL and will be ‘helped’ again to try get a better SKY deal. Sorry I didn’t realise I couldn’t discuss how wrong those statements were and actually have conversation with folk on here.

If you paid any attention to the posts you’d notice he I pretty much always brought it back around to the SKY deal. How unfair it was, poison chalice etc. I expect you just read the Bulls part though so I’ll forgive you for that

Best team from a TV deal perspective is hands down Bradford. I don’t think we deserve it but that’s fact. As I said before Toulouse, Leigh and Featherstone are the three they should choose from.

Just where is the poison Chalice?

The ownership is fairly wide with Wood Sawyer and Swain holding most the shares, they look a dedicated team in for the long haul. If they go down they can come back up. They have the business plan to make good use of the ground to attract revenue, the ground is either passed for spectators as safe or it's not passed.

It passes......

It's who SKY want to see, its a club who can attract the fans and take them round the grounds accordingly to the the benefit of all. Any idea the club is not "ready for Superleague" is absurd, as for the team they are in good hands, and Kear is the kind of man who can get 11th. spot. Who knows? time may be up on Salford who are the ones heavily in debt, whose top coach has left them. Anyone really think Salford are a stronger bet than Bulls?

I can't think of anything worse that Mr. Wood who knows the game inside out and got a half £Million pay off when he left and Mr, Sawyer, Mr. Swain and others being told no you can't come in, when all the SL clubs and SKY clearly want them in on the half baked idea not that they will just go down again (if so they can just come back up again - other clubs did this like HKR

It's a no brainer, clearly a better choice than erm Toronto Wolfpack, how did they go? Clearly a better choice than Toulouse who won't bring any fans at all and who SKY don't need - totally absurd if we start rebuilding SL as an anglo french league.

If Superleague say they are the club they want in and Bradford say they are ready to be in whose to say it's a bad idea? Well anyone on here of course but please explain HOW it's a bad idea. If anyone wants a bad idea that's to reject the Bulls directors investment into the game, tell SKY they should show a French club instead and block thousands of fans returning to Superleague with their money in their pockets ready to spend around the league.........

Toronto reached,and were accepted into ,Super League by on-field performances.

It may surprise you,but it seems Sky and Super League don't agree about everything - even though you purport to know the machinations of a few M62 club owners - and the USA people in charge of Sky.

Edited for accuracy.