Regarding the Bulls difficulties at this time.
If it came to a vote of the other 13 chairmen to allow the Bulls to stay in SL under a different name say, or vote them out because they`ve gone into administration etc.
Bearing in mind , if they are voted out, the Sky money could then be divided among 13 teams not 14 !!!!! which would certainly help us ..
What would you do if you had a vote????

How would you vote if.......................

We could return to the Willows
Have promotion and relegation
Have a Board with some money and knew what to do with it?



How do we end up with a scenario where Bradford may be voted out of SL whilst a team in London are still in it?

You can't vote on Bradford being chucked out for going into administration as the sport already has rules for how that should be penalised (points deduction).

The question is if they go into liquidation, who is best placed to take up a superleague license, a new Bradford club or an existing National League club (Fev, Fax)? In theory that's down to who puts in the best business plan, but the existing Bulls business plan was given a B grade licence just 12 months ago so the process is flawed in practice.

Iain i'm sure that is not an option listening to that aussie or kiwi from the RFL last week he seemed to imply a points deduction wasn't on the cards and that the rules stated any "goings on" would result in a withdrawral of the franchise.

thats how I read it.....

If Bradford Bulls are liquidated, then they cease to become a member of the RFL, which leads to their Super League licence being revoked.

If that happens before the end of the season, then their record would probably be expunged (-3 points for Salford). I doubt the RFL want that and will do what they can help Bradford finish its 2012 campaign; after which they would receive a large points deduction (putting them outside the playoffs).

The Super League clubs can then vote on whether the league stays at 14 participants or drops to 13; a couple of RL journos are insinuating that Sky also has a say in the matter, and that they believe 14 clubs isn't working. The RFL can veto their decision (i.e. if they do not agree to the decision, it does not happen) but also have the final say on any clubs obtaining a Super League licence. The new Bradford club could apply for the 14th licence.

If SL drops to 13 clubs, what happens to Manchester Magic Weekend (or whatever it's called)? You're left with an odd number of teams, and I can't see doling out two points to a team that gets a bye being too popular.

If Bradford get voted out, then either they'll have to be replaced (possibly by New Improved Bradford), or SL takes the opportunity to drop to 12 clubs. If it drops to 12, who will go with them? I can think of one club that struggles to get the citizens of Salford off their ar[is[/ies and into the brand new stadium, even though they are playing some outstanding rugby. They'd be a candidate. If Bradford are replaced with another club, thus keeping SL at 14, then, at the end of the franchising period, you'll have a reborn Bradford playing in front of, say, 7000 fans each week in the Championship, and an SL team in Salford playing in front of the same 5500. Who gets voted in, who gets voted out?

Be careful what you wish for.

[i"When the licences were announced last year it was clear that if a club failed during the licence period the licence was in danger of being revoked.

"Bradford have failed so they have brought themselves into that area.[/i

rlSourcerl

I have read rumours that Halifax or Featherstone would replace BB if they were relegated/liquidated but there should be more news on a takeover shortly.I reckon Castleford may also be in danger as they still await a suitable stadium.

All the talk of Rugby League heartland towns struggling to stay afloat yet nobody has mentioned the ongoing failure of the RFL's beloved expansion club London. It just makes you wonder.

For what it's worth despite Bradford breaking the rules and going into Admin they are still one of the sports traditional clubs and get a regular + 7,000K every home game. Now in anyone's books that is worth supporting in comparison to London. The RFL have also pumped alot of money into dead expansion ideas that has proven not to work. Crusaders being a prime example.

Im not condoning what Bradford have done by the way it just makes me sad to see one of Rugby Leagues traditional clubs in the mess it is. Together with all the depressing talk of late of a number of great clubs including our own in financial strife.

I cannot see London Broncos being thrown out of SL as the political fall-out after the Welsh fiasco would be enormous. The only way they'd disappear would be if Mr Hughes stopped bank-rolling them: another club dependent on an enthusiastic owner.

The constant reporting of our financial issues in the RL press is something we need to note: glasshouses and bricks!

A potential reduction would only be on the agenda if there were 13 licensees going into 2013. Unless Salford, or any other SL club for that matter, fails as a business too then I doubt they could take the league down to 12 clubs until 2015.