RFL Aid

[RoC of 606]

I'm not saying Bradford must be bailed out just that why should a team that was never going to succeed have money thrown at it. Bradford got themselves into the mess and it's up to them to deal with it but the RFL have wasted a lot of money with it's ill thought out expansion plans.

[Mooooove]

How did the Bulls get a licence for the next three years, if the RFL were monitoring all clubs how did this happen. Not for the first time Bradford look to be going under, forget expansion and promote the game more in the heartlands, that is where it was born, and that is where it should stay. Bring Cumbria into the setup, and lets get back to a northern game, where the support lies.
I don't see Australia/New Zealand doing a great deal on expansion. The game has limits at top level, accept it and accept what we have, a minority sport in terms of global audience.
If the RFL bail out Bradford now, why did they not help Wakefield last year, they allowed a club to nearly vanish even whilst a new owner with cash (as proved) was trying to save the club.
Sorry for Bradford, but think the RFL have alot to answer for.

[RedRedRobinBen]

(03-27-2012 06:25 PM)Mooooove Wrote:  How did the Bulls get a licence for the next three years, if the RFL were monitoring all clubs how did this happen. Not for the first time Bradford look to be going under, forget expansion and promote the game more in the heartlands, that is where it was born, and that is where it should stay. Bring Cumbria into the setup, and lets get back to a northern game, where the support lies.
I don't see Australia/New Zealand doing a great deal on expansion. The game has limits at top level, accept it and accept what we have, a minority sport in terms of global audience.
If the RFL bail out Bradford now, why did they not help Wakefield last year, they allowed a club to nearly vanish even whilst a new owner with cash (as proved) was trying to save the club.
Sorry for Bradford, but think the RFL have alot to answer for.

Well said. Bradford dont just go £1million in debt like that!

[CherryPie]

How much more does the game need promoting in the heartlands? That responsibility lies as much with the clubs as it does with the RFL. Bradford's problems and expansion simply aren't related, so to say expansion should be scrapped because a club is in real trouble which they brought upon themselves just doesn't make sense. The RFL do not have an obligation to offer financial help to Bradford.

[Gateaux]

I agree Cherry, although you would wonder if they RFL go into enough detail when looking into the financial side for the the licences.

[chesterhino]

well this is how the rfl described the bulls B-licence award

Super League licensing summaries published

The RFL has today published detailed summaries of the licence applications of the 17 clubs who applied to join the sport’s elite competition in the three-year period 2012 to 2014.

Bradford Bulls - Grade B

Bradford Bulls provided a solid submission detailing a strategy, tactical plan and targets to achieve improved commercial and financial performance. The club has a solid fan base, a strong brand and good operating structure/governance in place. However the club faces some challenges. These include the local economic environment, poor recent on-field performance and an ageing facility. The application acknowledges these challenges; however the club believes that its business plan for the next three years will move it to a position of sustainability with good prospects for further growth. The club has invested heavily in its youth performance programme in recent years, and it is expected that the club will soon start to reap the rewards of this investment with improved performances and increased numbers of quality club-trained players.


a solid submission|!!
of what??

[Gateaux]

So, it would seem like the finance side of things is similar to the ground side of things. Say what you are going to do and get a tick in the box!

[MossdaleRhino]

Lets look at the bigger picture here for a moment. We are three months into a new 3 year licensing period and another famous club is already at death's door so to speak. Within the last license period Crusaders and Wakefield entered administration. Is this, I would ask, a consequence of the very licensing system that the RFL have created? Are clubs feeling the need to overspend on budgets for ground improvements, better players, better corporate facilities, better youth development systems in order to obtain a coveted SL licence. If any of the above is the case, then I would suggest that SL franchising is failing the game, and we NEED to revert back to promotion and relegation now before any more clubs go the same way as the clubs mentioned above. Forget expanding the game further until we have the established clubs on an even keel and able to keep their heads above the water line. Because if this is what franchising is going to create every time licences are handed out, the game is in a more precarious state financially than any of us would like to admit.

[8ULL5HITT4]

I don't think the RFL should bail out the Bulls as it would set a dangerous precedent. I'm not sure what the RFL would do with the stadium lease for Odsal that they've just bought.
Any new club would really need a rich backer as it seems that the gap between the haves and the havenots is a continuing feature of the league.
I remember clearly when it happened last time, and as a regular supporter then it was very worrying. Now, as a less frequent visitor to Odsal its not quite as central to my life but I'm still sickened at the thought.The difference this time is there is plenty of games on the box.

[5point]

London Broncos are still an expansion team 15 or so years down the line. So expansion hasn't worked. I'd hate to see them go, being a London born and raised southerner who prefers rugby league to soccer and union, but I do agree that the RFL should do everything it can to support Bradford before it considers Wales (again), France (again) or elsewhere. London can't support a grass roots up approach as it would take 50 or 60 years to even get going and by then the current administration would be long gone. It needs a high profile (and preferably top flight - SL) club to market the game. Big irony, as a club should be rooted in a community. Bradford is, and the club itself needs saving somehow.