Thoughts ???

Beginning of the end for Franchising. To be replaced with "Star Chamber" selection panel.

Kept all their players, had players wages paid. Got fans to donate £500,000. All this and kept SL place. Can't help but think Wakey were treated shabbily by RFL. Can see other clubs following Bulls example as RFL have set a precident for future administrations.

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_102 ... onths.html More info there.

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_102 ... onths.html More info there.

If reports are to be believed and there are 2/3 other Super League clubs struggling financially, its now going to be very interesting to see how the RFL help those clubs.......

By allowing this saga to drag along for so long, to give numerous hand outs etc etc and still BB maintain their SL Licence surely every club from now on MUST receive the same backing.

We shall see.........

No issue with them retaining SL status. They've been bought out of admin so its the same as Trinity and Crusaders. Have to laugh the Bulls fans who think their club has been badly done to though. The Bulls have got off lightly.

Absolute Farce!!


Be interesting to see what form of "close monitoring" the RFL do on Bradford next year. Hopefully a better job than they did of scrutinising their business plans for this year.

Wood's view:
RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood said: “This is a very positive development which provides stability for all the clubs in Super League and the Championship and allows the sport to approach next season with even greater confidence.

“The Board deliberated long and hard and took into consideration the many views of the sport’s various constituents before reaching a decision which we believe is in the best interests of the whole game.

“The new owners of Bradford Bulls are to be congratulated on their foresight in purchasing a club which we always knew was a very attractive proposition. Their investment in Bradford Bulls is a vote of confidence in Super League.

“A probationary licence allows us to closely monitor the performance of Bradford Bulls next season and develop a view on what direction we take in future years. That direction will be framed by the ongoing strategic policy review that we expect to present to clubs in the first half of 2013.

“The probationary licence also precludes the need for a mini-licensing round, which the overwhelming majority of clubs accept was impractical given the timeframes involved.

“The RFL Board and Executive will continue to work with all member clubs to build on the terrific progress we have experienced in 2012.”

But the Rfl/Super league left the Bulls to rot! Don't you read the Bulls board?

So what happens with regard to all the cash they were "forwarded" for wages etc ? does this come out of Sky money due to them or was it just a gift ? Surely they can't get the tv money twice and if not it's to be hoped the new guy has some deep pockets.RFL has given a massive green light for clubs to live beyond there means at the expense of a few points deducted and have painted themselves into a corner for when all this happens to the next club.Bet the RFU are spittin out the Gin and Tonics and laughing there socks off.

I didn't expect anything less.

You have to understand that if they was to drop down a league then it would of effected other clubs, if say Halifax, Leigh or Fev had a similar fan base then yes you could warrant a change but who could of replaced them and not effect the game in general.

I'm not without disgust in the way they have been protected but then I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face.

So I'd just like to wish the Bulls success in maintaining super league but not at the expense of any other club that find their selves in the same position as them and don't get the same treatment.

My thoughts are with my club Wakefield Trinity and what they achieve and how we grow, nothing else matters

glad that's all over now

The Bulls situation is no different from any other failing business, apart from the advance monies from next seasons pot and their re-instatement into top flight competition.
It is true that the likes of Fax, Fev and Leigh would have struggled to get ready for the start of the next SL season, so there really is no choice.
For people like ourselves, when our club seemed to be cut adrift by the RFL and then made to sweat regarding a franchise place, it does seem that there are different levels of treatment being handed out, depending where you are in the RFL's pecking order.
With rumours surrounding another 2 or 3 SL clubs being in a perilous state, it will be interesting to see what happens when the next club fails.