Not really.


How about having to replace their BOD? Finding a willing buyer not previously connected with the club? Losing their coaching staff? The personal ramifications to directors of taking a business into administration or liquidation? Credit blacklisting?

It really isn't a soft option and there is absolutely no guarantee of getting a similar result.


The RFL have applied the rules as voted for by member clubs. Which is exactly what the SFA did. If the other Scottish clubs had wanted Rangers to stay up then they would have.

No facts are wrong, but to suggest that Bradford have been adequately punished is close to insanity, what have they lost exactly?

Should HKR now just go bust and restart as a SL team with no debt?

Should London do the same, we can let Salford as well while we are at it!

Level playing field my back side!!

I know, I already covered that in an earlier post.

The only surprise to me was that the Mini Licencing wasn't taking place, which would have been a lip service exercise anyway, Bradford were always going to be back in.

I don't have a problem with it, and as a previous poster mentioned Wakey & London went into administration and remained in SL (albeit London was before franchises). The difference with Bradford is there has been sucjh a big gap between administation and finding a new buyer so they have really been under the spotlight.

Now come on Mr Khan, get a lid on the away end of the new "Wembley of the North"

How do you think Wakefield are feeling right now? They went into administration and did their damnedest to sort it out by selling off players etc. Bradford do it and the only step they took was to fire the coach and coaching staff, and fleece 1/2 million from their fans and other fans. No players sold etc. Explain how they have really been punished? They have the coaching staff back, the coach back, the debts are gone, all the players are still there barring 1. They are also in the Super league next season. I am having a hard time figuring out the punishment.

Yes they got a 6 point deduction, but lets face it that decision spurred the players on to play better whilst their futures were in limbo, as soon as it was sorted they went back to form and lost the remaining 2 fixtures.

Exactly, thank you!

Been a farce all along. bradford run up massive debts which they're allowed to walk away from. They have players worth maybe £300-500k (wire reportedly offered £300k for bateman earlier in the year) but the other clubs agre not to approach any of them. The assets are then sold at below market value and the new co is allowed to continue with only the inconvenience of a small points deduction in a season where they had no chance of actually winning the competition anyway.

Selling of players was an issue for the respective administrators. One tried to raise funds (though probably succeeded more in cutting the wage bill, under the circumstances), one [itried[/i to get maximum value from prospective buyers.
Wakefield, though I didn't realise it at the time and made a bit of a wally of myself on the VT over it, were also reborn as a newco - albeit one that voluntarily agreed to pay off [isome[/i of the oldco's debt. The precedent for transferring a licence to a revivified club was made with Wakefield (or likely Crusaders before them).
There's a structural issue that a SL club, by virtue of its status, is stronger than a Championship club, even if it goes bust. Championship clubs are therefore left in something of a Catch-22 situation.

The RFL is a sham and licensing a farce, if only because there was no rules and regulations about administration. The RFL have made it up as they've gone along and now have to do the same for any other club that this happens to.

It's no surprise it's the usual sanctimonious posters saying different.

Always the likely outcome but it feels wrong.

Guessing Galea became the option when Pearson realised he wasn't getting Bateman / Whitehead.

Can't see the point of 12 month probation though. Bulls out of contract players will be open season in April but they won't find out until September if they're still in SL? How's that going to work?

think they should do away with the license scheme, fair play for trying something different but don't think its worked

also, if any team goes into administration now the Super League will have to buy them out until an owner comes in and the RFL have to let them continue to play in super league the following season

Hasn't this happened to The Bulls three times now? surely there comes a time?

Whilst I can agree with you on the one hand, I think that it is those who ran (mismanaged) the club that should be punished. Not the club itself, the ones who bailed them out, or the fans.

Now that the club has survived that, everything ought to be done that can be done to sustain and maintain them for the sake of the club, fans and the game as a whole.

We need to be building our game up, not bent on knocking it down.

Once AFAIK around 1964? but thats hardly relevant to the present day, please explain.......

Good point, I suspect that the OK Bulls could be operating under severe financial contraints in 2013 (Sky money already advanced to previous owners / administrater, RFL sanctions) OOC players in 2013 could well be looking to secure a move by April / May depending on how things go in 1st few games of next season. Although if the top clubs have already spent to the cap (including FC) then their options could be limited.

Bateman / Whitehead are you listening? best jump ship now

Featherstone's Pragmatic view...

Featherstone Rovers have reaffirmed the club's desire to take its rightful place in Super League despite not being given the opportunity to replace Bradford Bulls in the top division.
The RFL have today awarded Bradford a probationary licence for next season rather than measure Rovers and other Championship clubs against the Bulls, a decision with which Featherstone are entirely at ease.

Rovers Chief Executive Craig Poskitt said: "Whilst I understand the frustration that some of our fans will be feeling, Bradford being in Super League next season is something out of our control at the present time"

"There is no way with the delays in the decision that we would have been in a position to step up in 2013 if we'd been given the chance. It's a completely unrealistic proposition considering the timescales which would have undermined all the progress this club has made in the last few years, we are doing so much hard work that I will not risk this club falling flat on its backside. The plan we have will enable us to enter Super League on merit with a business model that will be sustainable."

"Our focus remains on entering Super League in 2015 or hopefully before on our merits, be that through licensing or promotion and relegation.We have made no secret of the fact that we believe the sport should return to promotion and relegation.

"Bradford's experience has highlighted the inherent weakness of licensing and I am sure that will be taken on board by the RFL in the strategic review of licensing that is currently taking place.

"In the meantime our fans should be assured that Destination Super League is on track and I would urge everyone to get behind the club as we look to defend our Championship title at Warrington in two weeks time."