Bradford go into administration

[CC_Roosters]

Swap Bradford for Toronto. They've got a Championship squad already. Not going to happen, but it makes some sense.

That's not a bad idea tbh and would be a bit of a win for the internationalists among us.

When the RFL had the 14 teams in SL with licensing and no relegation I thought they were half way to a good structure. Imo they should have had two x 10 team divisions, say called SL and SL2 with P&R between the two and the licensing applied for entry into the "top 20" rather than the single super league as was done. This would have made it easier to capture the likes of Toulouse and Toronto into the higher pro structure with the relative safety of not being relegated beyond the second tier unless they failed to meet the licensing criteria.

 

[Northern]

Promised take over bid has been rejected by the Administrator today even though RFL sanctioned it. Rumoured that another bidder has come forward though.

 

[Foreign Legion]

lets hope so...

 

[Pommy]

That's not a bad idea tbh and would be a bit of a win for the internationalists among us.

When the RFL had the 14 teams in SL with licensing and no relegation I thought they were half way to a good structure. Imo they should have had two x 10 team divisions, say called SL and SL2 with P&R between the two and the licensing applied for entry into the "top 20" rather than the single super league as was done. This would have made it easier to capture the likes of Toulouse and Toronto into the higher pro structure with the relative safety of not being relegated beyond the second tier unless they failed to meet the licensing criteria.

I'm not a fan of ending up in a situation like here in Australia where there's teams making up the numbers knowing their position in the top flight is safe whilst threres no prospect for sides outside of Sydney to enter. At least the current format allowed Toronto and Toulouse a path to the SL which is more than say Perth or the Bears have.

 

[siv]

Promised take over bid has been rejected by the Administrator today even though RFL sanctioned it. Rumoured that another bidder has come forward though.

Wonder why the administrator rejected it ?

 

[Perth Red]

Wonder why the administrator rejected it ?

Usually not guaranteeing enough or creditors not agreeing to whatever the purchaser wants to pay off debt wise.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Bulls in trouble

Former NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers has failed with a bid to buy troubled English outfit Bradford Bulls.

Players of the English Championship club – coached by Brian Smith’s son, Rohan – were reportedly not paid last month as they wait for a buyer to rescue them from administration.
http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-5-1/

 

[RL The greatest game]

Bulls in trouble

Former NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers has failed with a bid to buy troubled English outfit Bradford Bulls.

Players of the English Championship club – coached by Brian Smith’s son, Rohan – were reportedly not paid last month as they wait for a buyer to rescue them from administration.
http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-5-1/

I'm given to believe that today is make or break for the Bradford Bulls.
I wish them well, but i don't think they can be saved now.

 

[Tigers1986]

Wonder why his bid was rejected. Apparently it was as good as done.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's a damn shame what's happened to them and shame on the RFL for not helping prevent it. I feel their only solution is to fold, be reborn as a new company and start fresh again in League 1.

 

[Evil Homer]

What do you want the RFL to do, they can't run the clubs for them.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Wonder why his bid was rejected. Apparently it was as good as done.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's a damn shame what's happened to them and shame on the RFL for not helping prevent it. I feel their only solution is to fold, be reborn as a new company and start fresh again in League 1.

Clubs are in charge of their own destiny, what do you want the RFL to do short of stepping in and running clubs? it's not policy in any UK sport for governing bodies to run a club, unlike Australia were clubs are not allowed to fall on their own sword despite being financially incompetent over several years

Hopefully they can rise from the ashes of this mess in time. will they be a community owned club or what's the word in how the club will re-born

 

[Northern]

They've been liquidated today. All employees had contracts terminated. Players all free agents. RFL hopes for a replacement club in Bradford that will be up and running in the Championship for the start of the season with, I think, 12 point deduction. Any new team can play at Odsal. We shall see.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/38418199

 

[Foreign Legion]

really sad.... hope they can reform

 

[East Coast Tiger]

So all new clubs have to start in league 1, including Toulouse and Toronto, but this new Bradford club that doesn't even exist yet gets to start in the championship. Seems legit.

 

[CC_Roosters]

So all new clubs have to start in league 1, including Toulouse and Toronto, but this new Bradford club that doesn't even exist yet gets to start in the championship. Seems legit.

I see were they are coming from. all of the clubs around and below them have their playing staff in place and budgets for 2017 season l, so to drop Bradford and replace them with say Whitehaven who got relegated would not be ideal either.

Is it likely the playing group will largely end up with the 'new' club?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I have a feeling a Whitehaven or a Barrow would be more than happy to take their chances in the championship, especially with the extra funding championship clubs get, or even just the extra £75k they're handing to the new Bradford club.

 

[CC_Roosters]

I have a feeling a Whitehaven or a Barrow would be more than happy to take their chances in the championship, especially with the extra funding championship clubs get, or even just the extra £75k they're handing to the new Bradford club.

Whitehaven absolutely gutted their squad when they dropped down, I would suggest they will be mid table in league one so would get slaughtered by 40+ against most sides which doesn't help anyone.

The budget part of the Rfl statement is key. the other championship clubs have budgeted on the large Bradford away support so relegating them would affect the whole league detrimentally.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Like I said, offer any league 1 club a spot in the championships now and give them an extra £75 (at least) and you wouldn't even have to wait for the thinking music. And by rights it is more fair than letting a brand new club walk in.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Like I said, offer any league 1 club a spot in the championships now and give them an extra £75 (at least) and you wouldn't even have to wait for the thinking music. And by rights it is more fair than letting a brand new club walk in.

Logically you are correct, but I still back them on this one as the impacts on the other championship clubs revenue at this late stage would be too great. we need a strong team in a major centre lime Bradford so giving them a leg up in this situation is the preferable option imo.

The underlying problem at this level is that the clubs have to be as professional as possible to be competitive in the super 8's. but the funding is insufficient so they have to rely on gate receipts and sponsorship which without the TV exposure does not allow them to maximise returns, so a benefactor if available has to make up the shortfall in revenue. really it should be an entirely semi pro league until such a time as overall funding can be increased. while it ticks a few boxes the super 8 structure and the current funding level with likely see this situation repeated. Halifax, Bradford and Sheffield in one year speaks volumes of the problem. as I said in another thread the move away from licensing was a mistake, rather they should have had the top two tiers as 10 team leagues with P&R and strict licensing around stadia, financials etc.... 20 professional clubs is achievable especially and funding for the top 10 can actually be increased as well

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The problem with the entire system there is that out of the 38 or so clubs in the structure, about 30 would give their right nut to be in SL and only 12 can. Even if you expand that to 14 or 20 in one tier or two, the same applies. Most clubs spend too much money in order to get promoted but if you remove the path to promotion no one is interested. There's no answer to it. The best the rfl can do is just make sure the best clubs for the future of the game are in SL. And at the moment we don't have the best mix of clubs in SL.