Sums up what we all feel and think Ian
Quite frankly after watching Trinity for 53 years I am close to jacking it in because the game has become a joke and no longer played out fully on the field. More column inches are attained by politics and perceived mismanagement at the RFL

I'm sure I read somewhere that the other SL clubs voted for that as a condition of the Bulls remaining in SL after their last insolvency event, as a protest against the RFL's underhanded secret bail-outs and the lies and spin that followed.

As usual, it was never made clear if the SL clubs asked for this, so Bradford wouldn't gain an financial advantage, or if Omar Khan offered it, in what was basically a bribe and the clubs accepted it, but it was a deal between the clubs not between Bradford and the RFL.

btw the letter is asking the right questions of the right people.

Looking at all this from a different angle, one wonders if the RFL's extensive package of 'help' for the Bulls has actually been a hindrance? The club has lost all credibility amongst fans of other clubs, I would imagine that any wealthy investor is going to think twice about getting involved after watching the governing body help them to shaft OK and probably most damaging, they're now operating on 50% Sky money. On top of all that, if Nigel Wood cares at all about the RFL's reputation and standing in the game, they'll have to start the season on negative points.

With friends like Nige, who needs enemies?

This, I have been a Hull KR "fan"40 years and gave up last year after so many corrupt decisions by the RFL,they chop and change to suit them.
If that's the way they want the sport then I cant carry on supporting it,best team sport in the world but corrupt due to the guys running it.
Rules and transparency ? not a change with this lot.
Latest laugh is the Sky deal being rushed thru,that day it was the bee's knee's,this week people are having 2nd thoughts.
Short term fix for the clubs but lets hope in 5/6/7 years time costs are the same coz Sky wont be contributing anymore,deal is done.bed is made. #enjoy

[urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/10983763.Beleaguered_Bradford_Bulls_face_fretful_fortnight/[/url

At least two of the comments hint that the reply shouldn't take long as the RFL were in the meetings (my tongue is in my cheek).

When I commented on Friday that there will be no point deductions as the RFL were involved, in order to break a stalemate over the transfer, Adeybull commented on its accuracy.

"The board’s view has always been that if creditors are let down in any way, shape or form then that becomes a very tangible and obvious breach of the insolvency policy.

“If they are not let down, that supports an argument to avoid a sanction"

The comment in bold is the get-out, even though in our situation it merited a reduction in the sanction, not an avoidance.

I don't think we're in a particularly healthy place for the reasons you mention plus we no longer own the lease to Odsal but are still responsible for the up keep. I think Nigel Wood has had significant help in the mess from Peter Hood's regime and Omar Khan's appointment of Ryan Whitcut to run the club.
Very wealthy fan is probably our only option for putting money into the club but despite multiple chances to do so no-one matching that description has come forward. We've still got some significant sponsors and not a bad fan base so I'm not totally downbeat.

Looks like the RFL may 'lose' this letter..

"The board’s view has always been that if creditors are let down in any way, shape or form then that becomes a very tangible and obvious breach of the insolvency policy.

“If they are not let down, that supports an argument to avoid a sanction"

And so the charade continues.

My excuse is "advancing years", what's yours

So administration isn't a breach? It's just how you deal with your creditors.



The meetings to come are about how to spin the decision leaked by the Bulls' press release on Friday, not how to respond to the breach.

Are the directors of the new Bulls ownership company, former directors of the old ownership company?

Yes.

I thought you got SKY money docked to repay the RFL the massive amount of interest they had incurred in bank rolling you prior to your previous administration. You remember, them buying the Odsal lease, paying your wages up to you going pop.

Oh and I have to congratulate you on the timing of your latest administration - an absolute master stroke - just before SKY announced the additional £300,000 payment. If you had waited a few days maybe you would have been solvent and been able to pay creditors including Omar Kahn himself and been able to transfer ownership of the Club without the need for administration. But silly me you would have had to use the £300,000 to pay bills and not use it to pay future wages. Its as if you knew about the SKY money and made sure that money didn't go to Omar Khan and other creditors. Very clever.

I also wonder with you going into administration on 31st January whether the players got paid or whether their wages are owed to them by OK Bulls Ltd.

I have to hand it to the Bulls they really know how to run a business and perhaps Michael Carter should take some lessons from them - but then again maybe he should stay as he is, pay bills and creditors and maintain a degree of self respect and dignity.

So if that is the case, and creditors are not to be "let down in any way", why go into administration? Or was there one particular creditor in mind? And in the world of RFL committees, like clubs, are there different ranks of creditors?

When people like you wonder, I'm guessing you already have the answer. Of course, the £300,000 could be used to pay those creditors that would avoid a sanction.

My thoughts exactly; the whole thing appears to have been sewn up with unseemly haste - just in time to avoid having to use the £300k Sky windfall for anything inconvenient like paying those pesky creditors.

And yet they still are peddling out the same line feeling hard done by because they have lost half of their TV income. I really don't know why they find it so hard to understand that they have to pay back there RFL handouts from this. Guess the education system isn't up to much in Bradford, either that or they are so arrogant they genuinely believe they should receive preferential treatment.

For what it worth we are not receiving our full allocation of sky money this year as a percentage each month is being withheld in order to pay back the RFL loan we accuired. Fair enough in my book, what we have done is cut our cloth to suit the lessening of income. Did Bradford do this when they knew that they wouldn't be receiving full amount? No they didn't, they carried on spending money on players and staff that they didn't have. The RFL have continued to help them out and then they pull the admin trick to clear the decks, using the change in ownership speil as a thin disguise. And yet they expect to have no sanctions levelled against them? You really couldn't make it up.

The merry go round that was the BOD of OK BUlls went something like this:
08/01/2014 Mr M. Moore has left the board
21/12/2013 Annual Returns
19/11/2013 Mr R. Whitcut has left the board
=#FF000022/10/2013 New Board Member Mr A.M. Calvert appointed
21/10/2013 New Board Member Mr I.D. Watt appointed
15/10/2013 New Board Member Mr M. Moore appointed
04/10/2013 Mr V. Joshi has left the board
04/10/2013 Mr M.H. Swales has left the board
30/09/2013 Mr O.G. Khan has left the board
30/09/2013 M. Rias has left the board
30/09/2013 Mr G. Sutcliffe has left the board
30/09/2013 New Board Member Mr R. Whitcut appointed
30/09/2013 Mr I.B. Greenwood has left the board
07/06/2013 New Board Member Mr V. Joshi appointed
07/06/2013 New Board Member M. Rias appointed
27/05/2013 New Board Member Mr I.B. Greenwood appointed
14/05/2013 New Board Member Mr G. Sutcliffe appointed
14/05/2013 New Board Member Mr M.H. Swales appointed
03/09/2012 New Board Member Mr O.G. Khan appointed

Are the ones highlighted in =#FF0000RED now members of the BOD of Bradford Bulls 2014 or whatever its called, as they seem to be the only ones still in appointment.
I only see Moore's name mentioned with the newco in press releases.

I have to say I feel the same way and I know other long standing supporters who are also talking of packing in.

All I want from the RFL is transparency, openness, honesty and above all fairness with a level playing field and every Club being treated the same and before anyone jumps on me that includes Championship Clubs as well. Some don't like the new structure from 2015 but to me anything that gives a pathway into SL for all has to be applauded. Without hope there can be no future.

I talk of packing it in but actually doing it is much harder when its in your blood but farces like this will only serve to make it easier.

I've never looked forward to a season less.

The only reason i will be attanding this year is that i was foolish enough to purchase my season ticket out of some misguided loyalty when the first appeal came out at the end of july. It will be my last though, i'm afraid i have well and truely fallen out of love with the game.

I know what you mean but my patience is wearing thin.
Like you I was there when the crowds dipped below 1000 due to the dismantling of some of our great sides but that was not the same as the present. What is happening at present leaves a sour taste and the perception that there is never ever going to be a level playing field again.
Anyhow I have my season ticket so I shall continue at least for this season and see what pans out.

WTID

First things first - what a fantastic letter from Ian.

Speaking to a number of friends and colleagues who are supporters of other clubs both SL & Championship, they are in complete agreement that enough is enough and things need to change. If the RFL actually do reply then I for one cannot wait to hear their reasons for backing Bradfords plight yet telling us 'point blank' that AG & JE idea was simply not happening. The situations appear identical.

I feel for the Bradford fans to an extent because they are being judged and tarnished by the actions of the people running / attempting to run the club. Theres a lot of ill feeling before aimed at the whole Bradford set up yet the actions of half dozen are actually to blame - not the thousands of fans who just want a club to support.

Lets see what reply comes back............

Very well wrote letter. However I wouldn't hold your breath for a reply.