According to an article in Total RL, there seems to be a push for Bradford to be the team.....

Yes, I’ve just been reading the article, this paragraph shows they’ve already got the smoke and mirrors in place.

From LE.
The documentation reveals that each criterion will carry a different weighting, but doesn’t disclose what the weightings are.
It reads,”the panel will have absolute discretion in the weighting of the Assessment Criteria. For the avoidance of doubt, the Assessment Criteria do not carry equal weight.
When quizzed on that part of the document, super league chief executive Robert Elstone, who will not sit on the seven-man panel,said, I’ll have to refer you to the panel for that decision.
When asked specifically about the prospect of the bulls, Elstone added, “the criteria that’s been set will scrutinise all aspects of the applicants. I want this process to be forward looking, dealing with contributions in 2020. It should only be looking backwards to validate what that club could do moving forward. Elstone went on to add that fanbase size would be important.”” One of the key criteria of evaluation will be fanbasel” he said.

Well it seems to be the decision has already been taken. I’m pretty sure the majority of all rugby fans would agree any promotion to SL, is on field performance based. We’re back to the days of “Smoke and Mirrors” and nasty smells.

“I want this process to be forward looking, dealing with contributions in 2020. It should only be looking backwards to validate what that club could do moving forward.”
WTF???

Bradford will never see a penny from me.

Sham club.

The thing with Bradford is that everyone seems to be thinking of the high flying SL champions of the early 2000's and not the basket case club that followed.
Yes, there is potential with them but, right now, they are a mid table Championship club that groundshares at Dewsbury.
There are at least 5 other more worthy candidates.
If they go on current attendances, rather than the "rose tinted" version of yesteryear, they are still some way down the list.

I'm with you dboy.

To me it should be Toulouse...replace one expansion club with another that has a better chance of succeeding as they are already established, as well as helping to improve the French game...plus it'll be cheaper to get there!!

And the fan base! we want a club that brings fans not sponge off english clubs.

Absolutely disgusting if true, a club that was millions of pounds in debt Rip of their own supporters who had raised over half a million pounds for the club that just disappeared..They are a club that could not face the truth that they were\are no longer a big club.Shows how people can be bought in S L

Agreed.
Would prefer another team.
With the criteria, I would assume it would require them to play at their own ground........

When it comes to Bradford.... if they are the same
club that went under countless administrations, does that make us the same club which almost went under in 2011?

I think the angst towards Bradford should be directed towards the previous owners. Saying that I have no desire to set foot back in Odsal. Even the abominable snowman would complain at how cold it is.

How does a club that NEARLY went under be the same as a club that went under, under countless owners and administrations?

Lets be honest, any circumstances in which Bradford are admitted to Super League are going to be questioned and scrutinised by 90% or people even if the decision made is 100% legitimate.

Rightly so in my opinion, unfortunately the RFL have put themselves in this position by having conflicts of interests that they never should have had in the first place so any challenges raised by teams putting a bid in to join SL I would say are both highly likely and legitimate questions.

And before anyone beats the "Independent panel" drum, I get that, I just don`t believe that both RFL and SL wont have any input into the decision.

Isnt Nigel involved with Bradford these days since leaving the International RL scene after he got paid off from the RFL?