Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:10 pm  

So one thing we all seem to agree on is that Odsal needs redeveloping; something the majority of us has known for over 50 years.
The way I understand it - but I'm probably wrong - is that the RFL dont want to sign over their "responsibility/lease/holding" to a property developer who then rips the pitch up and builds houses, and tells the Bull club to go forth and multiply.
So from that aspect, maybe the RFL do have our interests at heart, and they are digging their heels in so that in 12 months time the Bulls still have a home ground at Odsal.
I agree that we shouldnt get preferential treatment by the RFL, at the expense of any other club - to the loyal fans we are all as important as each other.
but since the RFL have some control over our future, I can see why the talks are very much in the balance, because the RFL are damned whatever the outcome;
Scenario A - they give the bidders a good deal on Odsal; Bulls are saved, but all other clubs suggest we were given favouratism.
Scenario B - they refuse the bidder/s to have carte blanche on Odsal; bidder/s walk away, Bulls go into liquidation; numerous fans turn on RFL for being instrumental in Bulls disappearing from RL.

I hate to say it - but I actually feel that we need the RFL if we want the Bulls to survive.
If we do survive - the RFL then needs to severe its financial links with us so that it cant be put in this position again.

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:11 pm  

Right, I'm going to lunch. Can you all make sure nothing happens until I'm back? Ta

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:14 pm  

Highlander wrote:

Right, I'm going to lunch. Can you all make sure nothing happens until I'm back? Ta

Take a week, you'll be fine.

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:14 pm  

Highlander wrote:

Right, I'm going to lunch. Can you all make sure nothing happens until I'm back? Ta

no problem - I've just hit the "PAUSE" button for you.
Let me know when you are back and I'll unpause it.

All, If you look at the Red Hall webcam now - the meeting is in freeze frame till Highlanders lunch is over.

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:15 pm  

Highlander wrote:

Right, I'm going to lunch. Can you all make sure nothing happens until I'm back? Ta

That's a direct quote from big Nige.

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:17 pm  

Smack him Jimmy wrote:

So one thing we all seem to agree on is that Odsal needs redeveloping; something the majority of us has known for over 50 years.
The way I understand it - but I'm probably wrong - is that the RFL dont want to sign over their "responsibility/lease/holding" to a property developer who then rips the pitch up and builds houses, and tells the Bull club to go forth and multiply.
So from that aspect, maybe the RFL do have our interests at heart, and they are digging their heels in so that in 12 months time the Bulls still have a home ground at Odsal.
I agree that we shouldnt get preferential treatment by the RFL, at the expense of any other club - to the loyal fans we are all as important as each other.
but since the RFL have some control over our future, I can see why the talks are very much in the balance, because the RFL are damned whatever the outcome;
Scenario A - they give the bidders a good deal on Odsal; Bulls are saved, but all other clubs suggest we were given favouratism.
Scenario B - they refuse the bidder/s to have carte blanche on Odsal; bidder/s walk away, Bulls go into liquidation; numerous fans turn on RFL for being instrumental in Bulls disappearing from RL.

I hate to say it - but I actually feel that we need the RFL if we want the Bulls to survive.
If we do survive - the RFL then needs to severe its financial links with us so that it cant be put in this position again.

The question I would have to ask is "What benefit are member clubs currently getting from being joint owners of the Odsal lease???" and then ask what benefits they would get from realising the cash value of that asset instead?

Surely selling the Odsal lease back to the Bulls, therefore giving the RFL a welcome cash injection, is far more beneficial to all than having an asset sat there doing very little and providing no benefit to anyone?

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:20 pm  

Smack him Jimmy wrote:

So one thing we all seem to agree on is that Odsal needs redeveloping; something the majority of us has known for over 50 years.
The way I understand it - but I'm probably wrong - is that the RFL dont want to sign over their "responsibility/lease/holding" to a property developer who then rips the pitch up and builds houses, and tells the Bull club to go forth and multiply.
So from that aspect, maybe the RFL do have our interests at heart, and they are digging their heels in so that in 12 months time the Bulls still have a home ground at Odsal.
I agree that we shouldnt get preferential treatment by the RFL, at the expense of any other club - to the loyal fans we are all as important as each other.
but since the RFL have some control over our future, I can see why the talks are very much in the balance, because the RFL are damned whatever the outcome;
Scenario A - they give the bidders a good deal on Odsal; Bulls are saved, but all other clubs suggest we were given favouratism.
Scenario B - they refuse the bidder/s to have carte blanche on Odsal; bidder/s walk away, Bulls go into liquidation; numerous fans turn on RFL for being instrumental in Bulls disappearing from RL.

I hate to say it - but I actually feel that we need the RFL if we want the Bulls to survive.
If we do survive - the RFL then needs to severe its financial links with us so that it cant be put in this position again.

The thing I cant get my head round is surely it wuldnt take much for the RFL to put a condition of sale in any contract that any development must include a rugby stadium and the Bulls playing out of there, would have thought that would be one of the easier things to do

[Bullseye]

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:22 pm  

Odsal is definitely the key to the long term health of the Bulls. It’s been a millstone for decades and it seems that potential buyers see it that way too unless it’s value can be unlocked. Unlocking that value is in the hands of the RFL who will want to make sure they don’t sell it to a bunch of chancers that will run the club into the ground and then do what they like with the land.

The devil is in the detail. Bidder will need to provide cast iron assurance they are not a chancer. RFL need a watertight agreement that can’t be wriggled out of. I suspect the delays may be because the bidder isn't able to satisfy the RFL yet...

The way I see it there are three possibilities:

The RFL agrees to sell the lease to the bidder and the club has new owners.
The RFL refuses to sell to the current bidder and the administrator has to look at other bidders that are still interested if you believe what one of them at least has said on social media.
The RFL refuses to sell to the current bidder and the administrator decides other bidders aren’t serious and puts the whole lot into liquidation.

If it’s the third option then there will be no rugby in Bradford in 2017. A new club starting at the bottom would take at least a year to get together. My imagination runs away with me now but I wonder if that’s the Gareth Roberts plan. He moves BPA to Odsal and agrees to finance a new Bulls there too from 2018 in League 1, probably part time, in return he gets the lease.

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:24 pm  

Bullmans Parade wrote:

The question I would have to ask is "What benefit are member clubs currently getting from being joint owners of the Odsal lease???" and then ask what benefits they would get from realising the cash value of that asset instead?

Surely selling the Odsal lease back to the Bulls, therefore giving the RFL a welcome cash injection, is far more beneficial to all than having an asset sat there doing very little and providing no benefit to anyone?

well at moment it realising a 70k per yr return for them. If bulls dont survive then they lose that income but still have lease whih would they would have to be compensated for if council decided to sell of land for other uses. their only outgoing re odsal is the peppercorn rent to the council.

Re: Administration 3 - now in technicolour : Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:27 pm  

Maybe if someone (I cant disclose his/her name) accidently leaks the rumour that there is Oil under Odsal - nope, that wont work, they'll dig up the pitch, find some roman ruins and Odsal will remain sealed off for another few years - damn.