This would require [icretum testiculus[/i



Forget it ...................

Wakefield were on the brink of bring wound up which is usually and understandably when a plea is made.



Lots of clubs have made the same plea at that stage. This is very different. They haven't been threatened with anything. YET.

Wakefield were, publicly at least, at the very same stage Bradford seem to at now!

Sporties, it is exactly the same, the threat of winding up orders were there but other than that it is the same, Bradford clearly know they are in the same position albeit just a few weeks ahead of the same situation!

No the appeal was made before any winding up proceedings were in place. There was a second plea at the death but the first was very similar to what Bradford are asking for.

Franchising will prevent clubs spending money they dont have trying to avoid relegation



Bollox

The sport as a whole needs a new governing body. The RFL have proven their incompetence over the franchise process, with a Grade B licence being granted to a financial disaster of a club with no future. Lewis MUST go because of this and we need to get a proper governing body in place who will look after the sport properly, starting with the TV deal.



The most worrying thing for me is the World Cup. Remember these fools are also responsible for that. It's an obvious financial disaster already and I'd rather it was cancelled to be honest.

If I were a Bulls fan I wouldn't be putting £100 into the coffers.



Nothing against the Bulls or it's fans but I also hope that the RFL show some balls and instead of giving them a points deduction but throw them out of the SL. Just to send the message out that the pi$$ poor management of clubs is no longer tollerated. Thats three clubs in the last 12-18 months now. Thats at least two too many and one one of the reasons why the franchise system was introduced.

RFL director of standards and licensing Blake Solly said: “The RFL would urge everyone who cares about Bradford Bulls to support the pledge scheme.



“We have been providing and continue to provide Bradford Bulls with all the practical support we can to help the club through their current financial difficulties.”

I think that ship sailed a long time ago as various super league clubs have gone back on promises and failed in the short space of time franchising has been in. Serious questions do have to be raised about how Bradford managed to get a B license last time around. This sort of thing does not happen overnight and right here right now they are in a much more fragile position that most of the C licenses even.



Does a B license guarantee them a license next time around or is that just A? Genuine question, it's slipped my mind.



Regardless of this, anyone (and it is a minority so far) death riding this is ignorant and naive. This is not good for the game, and more than that, this is not good for your club no matter who you are. If you're a close rival or not, this is bad. If your club is hoping to pick up some decent players cheap, it's still not a net gain. Here's hoping they survive and pick up. With better management Bradford could be a monster, but they've been falling year after year from being that big club they once were and it's obviously time for new people with fresh ideas.

Beyond looking at the most recently filed accounts which are in the public domain, does the franchise process involve any further analysis of a club's financial position or audit of its projected cash flow?

Kick us while were down.