Don't think it was a bad following to be honest. A lot of fans are still a bit angry and upset but many will come round by the time next season starts. I'm sure there are some who won't go and that is there choice. Don't think this attendance gives much indication at all for next year.

I would have expected a decent above average crowd tbh. Given it was an ideal opportunity for s t holders and others to check out where they are ending up next year

I think most of our supporters are familiar with the Dewsbury ground given the amount of league matches and friendlies in recent years. There will likely be some drop off in support, but I’m confident the club can achieve around 3k at Dewsbury if the team continues to improve.

Yeah, agree.

If the savings on the ground mean a stronger squad then I'd have expected higher attendances at Odsal. Whether this translates into increases at Dewsbury we'll have to see, but I doubt it would mean fewer. (assuming RFL permission and actual performances, of course)

Myself and two friends didn't go yesterday.
We didn't need to check it out as we know the stadium already and quite like it.
We are all buying STs again and yes we think the gates will drop but not necessarily plummet.
For us it is about 25 minutes added to our journey but may look at the cheap bus transfer.
Fans will get used to the idea after the initial uproar on here but this place is just a very, very minority of fans.
It was interesting to hear yesterday that a well known stadium developer who has already built stadia in Yorkshire is the one Chalmers and the council are working with.
If people can be convinced a new small stadium will be built in Bradford then fans will put up with 2-4 years at Dewsbury. If fans feel they are been lied to then they will drift away.
The next few months from Chalmers is vital if we are to keep our fans on board - but he must surely know that.

I do think a 'serious' tilt at promotion with an older squad, with a few better players added would tilt the balance on numbers.

Reading AC's Q&A in the LE, it strikes me that there has been a bit of toy throwing on his part.

He might as well have said, my very good offer to buy Odsal from the council and the RFL and to extensively redevelop it, was rejected, and then they invite Hudgell, Carter and Davy to make an offer, so I'm not playing out any more and I'm taking my bat and ball with me.

Not saying I blame him, but suspect that's a big part of the reason we're leaving Odsal.

Carter and Hudgell would only buy in if it was guaranteed the Buls were there IMO, that tells me knowing the costs they would be happy to see the club fall to pieces. Pair of idiots who need to concentrate on their own clubs.

Also if they were invited by the RFL it shows their panic about getting the money back.

Whilst I've some respect for what Carter has done at Wakey I don't like, or trust, Hudgell one bit and certainly wouldn't want him anywhere near the Bulls. For the RFL to invite them to Odsal seems weird and quite counterintuitive to anything which could possibly help the club so what, I wonder, was their motive?

I read the piece in the LE as saying that the RFL only invited Carter, Hudgell (and Davy was also thrown into the mix) once it become clear that Chalmers wasn't going to play nice.

So I suspect that it was desperation born out of 'Oh crap, it looks like we are going to be left with a crumbling stadium, with no tenant, on our hands'

Quite what value Odsal has without a tenant is the really interesting question. Assuming the gang of three are still interested, what would be the point of them buying the lease? It's only the lease that the RFL has to sell, of course. The Council still holds the whip hand with the actual land. I'd always worked on the assumption that the rumoured interest from Carter and Hudgell was predicated on a desire to 'put one over' on Chalmers, and end up with him as their tenant - but who really knows?

It could become a lorry park, for traffic wanting to enter a blocked M606, after Halloween?

Yesterday was my last match of the season due to holidays (unless we make the playoffs) so I found it quite fitting that it was at our new (temporary) home.

Don’t get me wrong, i’m quite sad that I don’t get to come to the last game at Odsal, but i’m also quite glad I don’t have to go through what would be an emotional afternoon. I will always remember our final season at Odsal for the Leeds challenge cup game and I’m more than happy with that memory.

I really like Dewsbury as a ground and me and my dad will be renewing our season tickets soon enough. My bro comes to games when he can and we have just got my young nephew into coming to matches. He’s only been to three at Odsal so hasn’t built up too much of a bond with the place and he enjoyed himself yesterday. I think he found the move quite exciting and that is how we should all try and embrace it.

I’ll follow the last two matches from my holiday and then start getting excited for next season. The last two seasons under Chalmers reign have been the first two seasons that I have thoroughly enjoyed in a very long time so credit to him for that.

Sad day for some of the staff today they go there redundancy notice

This is the sad thing about leaving Odsal. Some very good staff will be losing jobs.

Statement from RFL. Not being funny but for a governing body, this looks like such an amateur statement and some toys being thrown out. Particularly the line "the RFL directors feel the decision taken by the board is a poor one" WTF! Dont remember them having this opinion when Sheffield moved from Doncaster and then to Wakefield.

Full statement.
The RFL Board of Directors has conditionally approved an application from Bradford Bulls to play home matches at Dewsbury’s Tetley’s Stadium in 2020.

This permission has been granted reluctantly and on the basis that the club’s intention is to return to Bradford in the near future. On the evidence so far submitted, the club’s plans for this return lack credibility and therefore the approval is only for the 2020 season.

The RFL Board feel that the information provided so far in relation to the move to Dewsbury is incomplete and therefore it is a condition that the club provide further financial information on the impact of the move. Until this is provided to the satisfaction of the RFL the Club will remain in special measures and is not permitted to sign players.

Based on the information received the RFL feel that this decision made by the Bradford Bulls directors is a poor one; however ultimately the Board of that club is responsible for determining what is in the best interests of Bradford Bulls.

The actions taken by the club leave little alternative but to grant this request in order to avoid disruption to trading, but only on a time limited basis which will allow space for a more comprehensive review.

As the Bulls have vacated Odsal, the RFL will in due course consider all options for the site.

Well the RFL have decided that if we're moving, they're going to have a go at shafting us as we leave. https://www.rugby-league.com/article/55 ... mMx0_9KBxQ

Well the RFL have decided that if we're moving, they're going to have a go at shafting us as we leave. https://www.rugby-league.com/article/55 ... mMx0_9KBxQ

They really have attempted to throw Chalmers under the bus with that statement. Did they think the decision by Sheffield to move to Doncaster, to Wakey to a school park in Sheffield was a poor one.

Based on information received. That's funny - didn't the RFL have a representative at the meetings between the Bulls and Bradford Council? I'm pretty sure I've seen something about that.
Did they just sit their with eating the biscuits and drinking the free tea and not take notes?

As said previously minus rose tinted spectacles - its far worse than is currently being said - see below - we remain in special measures;

[urlhttps://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/bradford-bulls-in-special-measures-as-move-to-dewsbury-rams-allowed-for-one-season-only-following-odsal-exit-1-9954705[/url


12 players on contract for 2020 and not allowed to sign anyone.


James Green already gone and the players are now being exposed to this news today - so who outside the 12 we have will hang around to see what happens next?

York and other clubs will be circling now I fear.

What a mess - once again finances all over the place with high wages paid to non footballing staff who do little to earn it - just the same under Marc Green.

So I wonder again - just what is the criteria to be granted ownership of a rugby league club? Must not be able to do sums?

As for Nigel Wood and his presence at the club - just another mystery.

Dominoes could start falling over now with season ticket sales being the next problem on the back of this.

Problem solved everyone. Mr negative is back, if you can't see how petty the RFL's statement your pretty clueless. They shouldn't be passing judgement on what a club decides to do. Tell me what was said when Sheffield moved out of the city for comparison?

TBH, I think it's sensible to keep your powder dry in this instance. The RFL initially said they knew nothing about Bradford moving to Dewsbury, despite the RFL having someone at the meetings between the Bulls and the council. And now, they're basically saying "until we see your accounts, you can't sign any players" and as they're not released until October, we're basically being punished for standing up to the RFL because we'll lose all our out of contract players and will have to scrabble round to pick up the scraps after October.

Surely they will be more interested in our cash flow projections rather than last years accounts?

guy can’t be thrown under the bus if he’s not even in the Country.

Don't give a toss if the RFL are petty - what they say goes - so right now we cannot prepare the squad for 2020.

Nor do I give a toss about Sheffield either - the RFL have approved the Bulls move as said by the Yorkshire Post - but added a restriction which isn't good.

They don't put a restriction on like that unless they know the club is in financial difficulties.

Calling out the RFL is pointless - it won't change what the club is facing.

But hey - I'm sure everything will be fine and a new stadium will be built in Bradford for the first time in 60 years and the Bulls will return to Bradford as promised..

As for clueless - if you start on me in this fashion - the next post I won't be holding back.

You guys are deluded if you think you’re being singled out by the RFL, the same organisation that put Chalmers in there. Could it be that he’s gone back agreements and hence the tough stance.