With regards to NW he was part of the RFL hierarchy at the time though I'm far from sure it would ever have been his sole decision, in fact I doubt very much that it was. That the RFL, as a controlling group were responsible, there is no doubt in my mind, they were guilty as charged.

It's hard to know but he was effectively the RFL so I'd say it's at his door.

There was an article in the T&A which quoted Chalmers saying Rimmer and Wood told him in the December before liquidation that he and Lowe would get it but they'd have to ride out a couple of bumps first.

If we end up a cock up like at Fax we'll not come back.

The worrying thing now is, after watching the CC this weekend and seeing where the other 3 SL championship winning clubs are, I don't think I'd care. There's little skin left on this dead horse.

I'd say Wood's tenure has absolutely no bearing on whether we 'come back' or not. This club's chances of being back at the top of the game died a long time ago.
The money is gone, the crowds are gone, the quality players are gone. This is what we are now, a mediocre championship side.

Unfortunately correct. The young players coming through now barely remember us even being in SL never mind when we actually won anything. We've become like Huddersfield were in the 70s/80s, a side that was great years ago, playing in a museum piece ground in front of dwindling crowds. I remember back in those days RL commentators would go on about how good it would be to see Hudders back in the big time and reminisce about players like Lionel Cooper. It was all long before my time. It's getting like that now when us old fogies talk about past players.

That's a very helpful analogy, Bullseye. I'm sure many of us recall standing on crumbling terraces at Fartown, now those crumbling terraces are our own! Another analogy - certainly if we don't get back to Bradford soon - would be Swinton.

The way Huddersfield got out that particular rut was the arrival of Ken Davy with his large bank account. Not sure there's a 'Ken Davy' around for us, or surely they would have emerged sometime over the past few years?

I guess there is some analogy there but I wonder if Hudds will ever get back to where they were? By that I clearly don't mean in the top division but at the top of it, winning lots of trophies consistently, that sort of thing

. It was strange to hear commentators, I think it was on Sky, wondering out loud about who was going to challenge the clubs who have won the championship and, as still one of the only 4 to do so, we got a mention.

Funnily enough a crumbling Fartown was exactly what I was thinking of. A place that had certainly seen better days. As you say Davy was the key for them. We've never had anyone like that behind the club in its entire history. Our successful periods 1940-1950, 1977-85, 1996-2006 were never due to a big money backer so perhaps we don't need one? The success in each case was down to the club having good, trustworthy and reliable people in charge with a vision and the appointment of enthusiastic and highly qualified employees. Names like Harry Hornby, Trevor Foster, Joe Phillips, and Harry Womersley inspired everyone under them. I know Caisley had his faults but he brought in some good people like Peter Deakin and others who transformed the club. We need people like that again. Is Nigel up to task? His record doesn't suggest so and the lukewarm tones of his recent interview don't inspire confidence.

Swinton and maybe Oldham are examples of great clubs that were cut adrift from their communities at the time. I'm not sure either have ever recovered. Let's hope we aren't following in their footsteps, even a period of treading water at Odsal in the mid to lower part of the championship is better than becoming nomads. Some day our Prince will come...

I think Watson might be onto something at Hudders if he's given time. He seems to have that rare ability to get good performances out of average players. If he can get great performances out of good players with the help of Ken's money then they might just win something. Who knows?

The fact that only 4 clubs have won the league since 1989 and only 3 since 2005 is a bit of an indictment of the game over here.

To be fair when I said 'come back' I mean to where we are now, a mumbling shadow of Bradford scratching around for a place to play and grabbing any player that brings their own boots.

I know the games being streamed this weekend, I know I've bought a Season Ticket but I have absolutely interest in watching it. I am disgusted with myself but... I think I'll be turning into a glory support after this season.

Better get a Euro millions ticket for Friday...

Not at all. Our most recent glory period was 10 years long and as Bullseye pointed out, finished 15 years ago. Anyone still watching cannot be described as a glory supporter.

My main issue seems to be there are obviously Stadium negotiations going on in the background, as well as some superficial (paint) and structural (fences and the Touchdown) improvements that Startrax are shouting about. But Bulls don’t do that. There’s no interaction, no info. Dropping to the championship we went from 8k fans to about 5.5k fans, then we’ve lost about 10% a year since then.
It’s as if the directors are expecting to finish the negotiations then go “ta-daa, we’re back at Odsal, we’ll build slowly and sustainably every year, you can all come back now”. But people won’t. They’re doing other stuff now. They’re lost the the Bulls specifically and RL in general.

Spot on. It perfectly sums up where I am. I've stuck with the club through thick and thin but the latest mob seem to take us for granted. That's very dangerous considering many of us have had time to get into other things during the pandemic. I've not necessarily been lost to RL, just lost to RL in this country. I've got an NRL season pass and am really happy with it. The game over here is so poorly marketed I had no idea it was cup weekend last week. As for the Bulls the club off the field aren't making me feel welcome and the on the field the players don't seem bothered either. So why bother with them myself? The club can't expect people to support them out of obligation.

Huddersfield under Watson might challenge for 4th but it will take 2 seasons to revamp that squad. The issue is that very few people in Huddersfield care.
Wakefield are Dewsbury with TV money. Hull KR, a club I've affection for have never recovered from their fall through the divisions. I'm at a loss to understand what Catalans bring apart from a half empty Wembley and a retirement home for ex-pie eaters. Cas without Powell? Salford without Watson? 4 clubs from 89? And one is us.
It's not just dull, it's depressing.

Another thing which merits comment is the reference to having paid down debts (incurred by Chalmers). Much was made of the generosity of Bulls fans foregoing repayment of season tickets for last season and this would be reflected in the 2021 squad. To be blunt - it isn't.

Can we now put season ticket-gate alongside Pledge-gate as example whereby Bulls fans bail out the failings of penniless idiots either installed by, or loaned huge sums of money by the RFL under the direction of ..... you guessed it?

I think that's a little harsh. We've kept all of last years squad with additions of Brough, Murphy, Rhys & Ben Evans.

Unfortunately somethings gone badly wrong fitness and attitude wise between us thumping Sheffield 28-0 +pushing Wakey all the way last year , and being humiliated by Sheffield last week.

York have signed 3 SL players on loan including Keyes.

Would have liked him back on loan.

Johnson, Farrell, Milnes, Barlow and now England. It's a marginal improvement but nothing more.

Yeah I agree about the time it takes to build a competitive squad and also whether it will make much difference if he does. When Paul Anderson made Hudders successful it didn’t exactly lead to crowds in their droves. Broadly agree on Wakefield who haven’t been big since Neil Fox was a lad and Frank Machin was tearing it up on screen . HKR aren’t the club they were back in the 70s/80s. Cas will return to being also rans and Salford look like yo-yo club contenders again. Disagree on Catalans though. Despite the large numbers of non French players I like setup over there. It’s a great atmosphere at games and is a great away trip. It gives French players an “elite” club to aspire to.

The way British RL is at the moment reminds me of the malaise the game was in during the 70s. Dwindling crowds, lack of money, falling behind the Australian game in every way. We need a Howes and Oxley type double act to turn things around.

Good point. Although some will point to Danny Brough and Justin Murphy and the need to be “sustainable”. I think the problem is that the current setup is incapable of being honest and saying that we’re not competing with the wealthier championship clubs for fear of losing supporters.

In the end it needs big investment and a big effort off the field to properly aspire to be a top championship side or even make a proper effort to get into SL. We’re not really doing either to the extent that Fev, York, Toulouse or even Newcastle are so it looks like we are where we are for now. Mid table at best.

Agreed. The sport just doesn't seem to realise it has to work hard to entice people to come nowadays.

Probably emphasised by Sheffield refusing to move the Fax game by one day so crowds can can attend that fixturell for the first time in a year. I know players are part time but if clubs can't be bothered trying to make allowances, with over a month's notice, in extraordinary circumstances like we currently have then the sports no chance.

Didn't know that about Sheffield. Unbelievable.

This is true. I've no contacts "on the inside" now so have no idea what the reason is but attitude comes from within and from having leaders around that set high standards. Maybe those people aren't doing that anymore?

As far as fitness is concerned this is also down to attitude and having the right people in charge setting the right programmes. I've already said what I think of the state of some of our first team players this year. I know that some of the younger players were having burger and chips after training on occasions in 2019/20 - I'm no dietician but I don't think that's what should be happening

The Catalan winger?

Totally agree with this. What planet are Sheffield on?

I ALWAYS get those two mixed up. Must be my age.

Evans brothers,Brough and Murphy are all better than ones replaced, will be om highers salarys too. only losses are England and Farrell.