Your absolutely right Sandal and at the bottom of all of this is the RFL's beloved franchise system.
Seen as "the best way" of developing the game and giving the clubs more chance to develop young players, it is destroying the ethos of the game.
No longer are we involved in sport, it has become a business which takes place in a "russian roulette" environment where nobody quite knows where the bullets are.

There are lots of emotional people on here. that is what makes our great game what it is. As a Bradford fan, looking on most boards has led me to shake my head at what many people have said, including some fellow Bradford fans. MOst fans put their club first, before the welfare of the whole league or sport, and we are mostly biased in some way, myself included.

I cannot see how Odsal, and the BUlls status in it is legally more secure this week than it was last. I dont have enough detailed information to make an informed judgement. I understand fully how fans of other SL clubs feel aggreived, especially those struggling to comply with stadia not up to "Superleague standard" and those who have struggled to attain that status.

I miss grounds like Wilderspool, Central park and Knowsly Road. I will miss Belle Vue and Wheldon Road. They all have/had things that were annoying/poor/appalling, but they had a real sense of what Rugby League was about; community, history etc... I would love to see a day where relegation and promotion is more about what happens on the pitch, and less about the buildings around it. I agree that finances shouls be a factor, as we dont want clubs going to the wall, or getting in huge debt to win the odd trophy, but why the ground criteria? if it conforms to health and safety regs, then it is good enough!

The purchase of the lease of Odsal strengthens one club over others. That is not fair. simple as. Even though its my club, its still wrong! The RFL should be looking to develop the whole game from the ground up. They would argue that by securing Bradford's future they are doing just that!

I would love to have more information about the numbers/terms etc... because this just looks like a short term cashflow, wonga style deal!

I'd love to know the exact numbers of clubs that have found themselves in financial trouble, since the emergence of SL, and how many millions of pounds the RFL have wasted in trying to manufacture and support clubs (of their chosing!!).
If this was the board of a PLC, wouldn't you just to love to be at the shareholders meeting?????

As would I!!
The messes created in Paris,Wales, Gateshead and even Sheffield, as well as the "Success" of the London Fulham/Crusaders/Broncos/Harlequins/Broncos would all be expensive.. However, the vested interests there are still clear as the money thrown at the gateshead venture benfitted Hull FC when they were on the brink, and the Sheffield folding benefitted Huddersfield.
what is questionable is the value that London/Catalans bring to the comp in terms of renegotiating the sky deal? if it is a deal breaker, then its worth it, because if sky want a national game they have it. If they dont want a northen / regional sport and they pulll out, everyone is in the brown stuff!


not sure why leasing a few hectares of BD6 is worth doing though?

As with many of the RFLs business solutions, they create more questions than answers, and then it all goes quiet!!!

You guys: please go read some of my posts on the thread on the VT. And the links. You might then start to wonder if the situation is a little different - and a little less sinister and "unfair" - than you seem to think it is. That includes you too Isaac1.

I can't relay everything I picked up, but its pretty clear to me the RFL DO see this primarily as a big opportunity for the long term. Nowhere else could they pick up such a site and with suich an existing facility at so little cost, for a start. But I can't stop people believing what they choose to and shunning any kind of objectivity - RL fans after all DID write the book on that!

Adey, I can read, and comprehend all the detail that has so far been put into the public domain. Your posts are ace, and i know that from many topics in the past you are very much the voice of reason, and a bright bloke.

But:

this still seems wrong. the RFL should be governing the sport, not helping one of its members gain financially. if they wanted Odsal for an RL national stadium, or as a new HQ, as a part of a property portfolio for investment, or whatever, this could have been done in a way that meant the bulls didnt benefit directly in terms of finance. they would be unable to do this for the other SL clubs, so should not do it for us.

at least this allows Bradford to move ahead of Leeds in one respect in these dark recession hit days; now we are the most hated team in RL!

Not at all in my eyes.

Dont think so. I have no hatred of Bradford or its fans at all.

We all have one thing in common - we all love this great game of Rugby League. My dislike is of the RFL for not telling the full story and the way its running (or ruining) the game.

Not even close to mate.

One thing I noted this is one thread where wakey and cas fans both agree :O