Wheres Fat Nigel from? BRADFORD! Whats the point of us (Fax), Wakey, Fev, Cas etc investing in ground developments when the Licence fiasco is bent to help certain clubs anyway. We have the RFL fixing it so that the Crusaders were in SL when they clearly were not fit. Where are they now? Bradford are not in the best position financially, get the ground sorted for them-who do you think will pay for any stadium developments? Not the Bulls! Who sold Thrum Hall which saw next to no money go in to the development of the Shay after he had helped run up big debts? Nigel Wood!

Am I the only one confused. Have the RFL (1) bought Odsal or (2) merely took over the lease from the Bulls?

The first would be bad enough but at least understandable to ward off the alleged potential predators looking to buy the ground and would fit in with the comment of "no immediate plans to develop", as you wouldn't spend money developing a ground you didn't own (unless you had to like we are at present). The second does not make any sense, as I can't see how it protects the ground from predators anymore than the Bulls maintaining the lease themselves.

The RFL should make full disclosure on this deal to the chairman of all member clubs so they know fully what has gone on.

here's a thought now Bradford don't own Odsal whats stopping them moving to the city ground and paying a cheaper rent there



where would that put the RFL with no income they must be tied to some contract

I'm struggling to understand this. If the Council own the Ground and Bradford have a long lease then why would the RL buy the lease? Bradford would have security of tenure surely under the lease so all they have done is change landlords.

Unless of course Bradford were experiencing financila difficulties and this assisted them in some way.

Confused of Sandal.

If you take a look on the RFL website it says it has bought ODSAL STADIUM FROM bcc

I wonder what Mr Glover thinks

to what I thought the council own the ground and the bulls had a 99 year lease but the bulls sold the lease back to council for a a big amount of cash a few years back

So how will this work come franchise time? The RFL are hardly likely to relegate bradford and get less rent out of them are they? And the Bulls chairman has admitted that they approached the RFL so its got to be to the financial benefit of Bradford that this has happened. Yet they were quite happy to sit back and watch us go out of business last year. It stinks.

Why does it say BOUGHT then? it would say bought the lease surely???

from what I understand the council bought the lease back and was interested in selling the land

So Bradford had a 99 year secure lease from the Council which meant that the Council could do nothing with the Ground. The Council "buy" Bradford out of the lease and Bradford receive a substantial sum but no longer have any security of tenure enabling the Council to do what they wish with the Ground.

Bradford now have become vunerable as the Council can do what they wish with the Ground including selling it on to a Developer which could leave Bradford homeless. Bradford then approach the RFL to buy Odsal from the Council which they do and grant Bradford a long secure lease thus securing their future at Odsal.

Fantastic business from Bradford. Sell the lease back to the Council for a substantial sum which helps with their finances, get the RFL to buy Odsal and get a new secure lease. Their position is unchanged but they have received a substantial sum of money and are now fireproof when franchising comes round again.

If this is how its all happened I congratulate Bradford, brilliant deal - its the mugs at the RFL who have fallen for this and have effectively given Bradford the money they received from the Council because the RFL will have paid the OMV for Odsal without there being a long lease in place.

Why could the RFL not have bought Odsal with the lease in place, it would have cost less but Bradford would not have received any money.

Of course it may not have happened like this at all.

Maybe not but it certainly leaves the RFL in a compromising situation with conflicting interests. That said I can't muster the necessary effort to give a toss really Good luck to Bradford I wouldn't have wanted them to be homeless and nor would I want the RFL's charity for us

Absolutely astounding


Firstly, go back 24 months, Bradford CC ring fenced £6m for redevelopment of odsal with a view to work starting 2012, then due to cuts in budget this money was re-allocated elsewhere, in between that Bradford get awarded a SL license with an instruction to improve facilities at Odsall, then BCC look at selling the ground to a developer but advise tenants (Bulls) that they were looking at selling up as they need money and instruction from Westminster is for LA to sell assets not currently in use by LA to release capital to fill holes in budgets. Then out of nowhere and without warning RFL buy the ground from BCC and off long term lease to Bulls, well it stinks bulls getting preferential treatment for sure, don't give me that they would have no ground as I know for a fact they could quite easily play (and would be welcome additional tenants) at Bradford City ground. This creates a conflict of interest to the RFL, they should go open book to all the chairman of the SL clubs to show exactly what financial dealings have been agreed and what the lease is really costing the Bulls. It's not the bulls fault, I can't hold them to account, if the RFL came along with a silver spoon to our club we would rip their hands off, but unfortunately although being one of the oldest RL clubs with one of the longest histories In RL and a founder member of the Northern Union this accounts for newt, face fitting and marketable asset we are not so no chance, same goes for cas we have both been turned over and the RFL are to blame

I have a good idea why don't the RFL turn Odsal in to a Super Dome.

Talk about chucking good money after bad, first they bail out the Crusaders, now they buy a money pit!

I’ve no idea who’s in charge of the RFL portfolio, but, I’m glad there not giving me financial advice.

TBH I’m not even slightly surprised, the governing body of our game blunder from one fiasco to another. The Wigan salary cap mishandling, Hulls C.C misdemeanour, the Welsh debacle…..

So come March/April and the worst case scenario happens and Newmarket is rejected will the RFL buy Belle Vue from the BOI to secure our future? There is no difference at all in the circumstances from what I can see.

The rfl spending money on another club in a big way like this is really stupid. The revenues come from all clubs so in effect aren't we all paying for this.

The RFL havent bought Odsal, theyve paid the Bulls a million + to purchase the lease, yes thats right, they have given the Bulls a million plus

You couldn't make it up





. Corrupt to the absolute core.

Give over now.

LOL at one or two of the Bradford fans jumping on their high horse about Wakefield after this episode, I don't think hardly anyone has said a bad word about the Bulls, just questioning the RFL's conflict of interests but apparently if you have a opinion about this your a whinger or jealous, you couldn't make it up.

Two points:

1 - It becomes increasingly clear that this transaction is a thinly-disguised loan to the Bulls. Bulls get lump sum now; Bulls repay through rent over next very few years. Dress it up how you want, that is how it looks to me. A loan. Simple as.

2 - Then we ask why the club suddenly needs £1m plus NOW anyway? My guess is to settle the image rights etc liability assessed by HMRC. The alternative would be to do as you did, and go bust and a phoenix company rises - free of liabilities for the past. Since, like you, without a sugar daddy or corporate owner we could not hope to meet such liabilities.

Now, looked at in that light, would you rather that the RFL had loaned YOU a substantial sum? That you had to repay out of future income somehow? Or would you rather be as you are: a new entity, free from historic liabilities (except through choice)?

You escaped all past liabilities for tax on image rights and the like. If I am right, we will not.

Does this scenario make some people a little less apoplectic?

You and your club have the sympathy of loads fans around the game and we understand the frustration you must be experiencing, but comments like the ones above do you no favours. I have asked for proof of the assistance received by the London team 10 years......I have yet to receive any. Crusaders were lent money, Catalans were given 3 years free from relegation, we had no special treatment and no financial assistance in any shape or form......so please, stop making yourself look bitter and twisted, as well as stupid.
Again...I fully understand the frustration, it does smack of double standards.

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I'm amazed that so many people are shocked by this 'deal'. The RFL make the FA look like a bastion of competency and integrity.