RFL Bulls

Yes.

On a selfish note then, looks like we could have dodged a bullet.

This talk of a new home for Rugby League

Why pick Bradford?

I think if I were planning on setting up a new home for rugby league I would pick a ground that sets an example of what the RFL want as a franchise criteria benchmark e.g. Warrington, St Helens etc not a crumbly, weather exposed, no atmosphere, poor views etc stadium.

Yes you have. Many thanks.

In breaking news, taken from the latest Annual Return just filed, it looks like - pretty recently - Peter Hood increased his holding to c. 20%, and fellow director Andrew bennett took on c. 5%. I suspect mainly from Colin Tordoff, but will have to get hold of the full list and check at home first. Caisley remains the biggest single shareholder.

Cheers for the pointer. I'd been waiting for the latest AR to become available, once I'd seen it filed a few days ago, and been too busy to go check.

One very significant implication of the above, that gives me some cheer: the board can now, collectively, block a Special Resolution. As can Caisley by himself. Still an unstable situiation going forward, but at least Caisley is not the most powerful faction any more.

It was quite apparent last night that the RFL have no immediate plans to improve the facilities at Odsal. The stadium (and the surrounding area) has a lot of potential for redevelopment. Whether or not the RFL are interested in doing anything with the land is up to them.

Peter Hood mentioned the possibility of improving things once the recession was over.

In my opinion? And from what I have heard from sources totally unrelated to the Bulls? Most definitely!!!

He drew particular attention to the use of the word "immediate", and emphasised that "immediate" can mean different things depending on the circumstances. It does seem clear everyone is seeking to dampen expectations, in the current ecomnomic climate. He went on to say that, once the climate improves, all the "stakeholders" (Bulls, RFL, Council) will sit down and discuss how to take the site forward, probbaly involving the private sector. For the benefit of all the stakeholders - Bulls, RFL, City.

In discussions with Duckett and (separately) Hood last week, it was clear to me that no-one expects the RFL just to sit on the site and do nothing. Very far from it.

They are all good reasons.
Im just bitter the RFL are inconsistent with who they help/bail out.
In my opinion they should have an open, fair and impartial system.

Belle View IS one of the historic, iconic stadia for the game (1895) Odsal (1934)

This in our experience does not count for anything.

Iconic for sure. At least as much as Odsal. More so than Keighley, and the RFL took over the head lease on THEIR ground (so its not just Odsal). But you chairman sold Belle Vue though, so the option to "do a Keighley" was seemingly not open to the RFL? And you could hardly say it was right on the motorway and was a huge site with lots of room for development, if you were looking anyway at them to "do an Odsal"?

I still maintain...the odsal situation was unique, hence the unique solution. Would I have acknowledged that had I not been a Bulls supporter? im really don't know. I guess if I was as bitter with the way things had turned out as I was over Leeds and Harrisgate, then objective consideration would have been nigh-on impossible.

Nah. But he DID talk a bit about people who refuse to admit anyone else with a differing POV may actually have a point, and instead resort to derision because - deep down - they would prefer not to hear.

I bet he didn't.

In the final analysis, the Bulls and the RFL know that this bail-out is completely unfair and has handed an advantage to one member club that hasn't been afforded to the others. They know that because it's blatantly and categorically the case, so in an attempt to mitigate the criticism and negative publicity it would garner, they've issued a series of insultingly vague and possibly dishonest press releases.

Your constant repetition of the spin doesn't make it any more plausible I'm afraid, though I do admire your stamina; I'd probably do the same for my club although given the strength of feeling, I'd probably avoid gloating about it in my message board sig.

[despair mode]Of course he didn't... [/despair mode]

The sig is not gloating; its rueful. From being (supposedly) masters of our own destiny when we returned to Odsal, to being a mere tenant of the RFL now and likely the butt of jokes (and worse) about that for the foreseeable future. Just another manifestation of how far we have fallen. It'll not be there for long; its bad enough knowing what it seems we had to do, without having to read it every day. I do, honestly, think the RFL will be seen to have done pretty well out of this when the history books come to be written.

thought I'd change my avavtar and sig. Just for you guys on here! Enjoy the new season and kee p up the banter! It's what makes our sport great!