: Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:55 pm  

If its happens, i hope the bulls make sure they at least equal rights to the stadium, considering the problems Wigan have been getting from Dave Whelan over the last year or so.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:34 am  

I'm going to ask on here, because you can't have any sort of conversation on a BCFC messageboard without being trounced for being a Bulls supporter.

Why on Earth do Bradford City fans think the council have one set of rules for the Bulls and another for City, favouring the Bulls? Is it true?

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:48 am  

AaronBull wrote:

I'm going to ask on here, because you can't have any sort of conversation on a BCFC messageboard without being trounced for being a Bulls supporter.

Well, it's make your mind up time.

AaronBull wrote:

Why on Earth do Bradford City fans think the council have one set of rules for the Bulls and another for City, favouring the Bulls? Is it true?

The main bone of contention is the stadium situation, I'm sure people would be satisfied if the council bought Valley Parade then paid the club £4m to look after it, while charging a pittance of a rent, but they aint going to make that mistake again.

At the end of the day the council, and the city, gains nothing by having a successful RL team, our three times world champions would probably get plenty of blank expressions if the name was put to someone as close as Sheffield. It's time Bradford Council sacked off any sort of link to the Bulls (most of the fans aren't from Bradford anyway), forgot about any silly sporting village where they would be main beneficiaries, and start giving some financial support to the team playing football, success in which could put Bradford on the sporting map.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:51 am  

Asim wrote:

At the end of the day the council, and the city, gains nothing by having a successful RL team, our three times world champions would probably get plenty of blank expressions if the name was put to someone as close as Sheffield. It's time Bradford Council sacked off any sort of link to the Bulls (most of the fans aren't from Bradford anyway), forgot about any silly sporting village where they would be main beneficiaries, and start giving some financial support to the team playing football, success in which could put Bradford on the sporting map.

I'd say there's plenty to be gained from a successful RL team! RL's a growing sport, whether people agree or not, and you are indeed right about the fact not many people outside the M62 corridor would know who the Bradford Bulls are. However, there is beneficiaries to the OSV, wasn't it being touted as a training village for 2012 athletes competing in the Olympics one time?

Bradford is on the sporting map FWIW, they have one of the most successful rugby teams in recent times, as well as a sleeping giant of a football side. Bringing them both together, in state of the art facilities (if we ever see them), could do wonders for both clubs.

[Bullseye]

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:04 am  

Asim wrote:

Don't get carried away folks.

The one and only reason this has come up today is that City's rent is due to be re-negotiated at the end of the season, and the club are trying to force Gordon Gibb's hand a little.

Just like with the Bulls and Odsal City's lease agreement for VP includes harsh penalty clauses if they break it, and as it is with a private landlord, and not a council, there is very little chance that such a cost would be waived - and who is going to buy it out?

It certainly looks as if the club are trying to influence Gibb. But what if these noises fail to have the desired effect? City can't afford £1m a year to rent their ground. Gibb's hardly going to waive that agreement. The best City can hope for is a reduction, they will still be left with a large bill to use their own stadium. Unlike the Bulls who would only be faced with a large bill if they left Odsal!

Asim wrote:

Let's fast forward a few years down the line, City will still be playing at VP and Odsal will still be awaiting redevelopment, and the same debate will be raging over and going round in the same circles.

History suggests that will be the case, while many of the key stakholders seem now to agree that "something needs to be done with Odsal" there are no plans yet drawn up and nobody's offered to put their hands in their pocket. The OSV is a long way off yet! I think stating that something could be agreed and built by 2011 is very optimistic indeed. However it's the only hope for the club given that they can't leave Odsal without incurring a massive bill from the council and wouldn't be able to contribute anything toward City's rent costs to Gibb.

Block5Bull wrote:

For my part I go to watch both teams and I am currently more concerned with the possibility of one or both folding within the next 5 years.

Well said. I think parochial viewpoints need to be put aside by fans of both clubs. What's best for both? If that's us both staying where we are or sharing Odsal or VP I'm happy to choose the option that safeguards my club, whatever it is. The stakes are too high for arguments about the colours of the seats!

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:05 am  

AaronBull wrote:

However, there is beneficiaries to the OSV, wasn't it being touted as a training village for 2012 athletes competing in the Olympics one time?

All gubbins to try and make the scheme seem worthwhile, now they have given up on that and are trying to link the city's main team into it to try and give it credibility.

AaronBull wrote:

Bradford is on the sporting map FWIW, they have one of the most successful rugby teams in recent times.

Indeed, the Bulls got as high as they can possibly go in their chosen sport, but the latent interest for RL in the city still isn't really there, indeed the Bulls are once again having to tap into Dewsbury, Halifax and the like to try and arrest the slump in support and interest.

AaronBull wrote:

sleeping giant of a football side

City aren't a sleeping giant, we've never been a giant and circumstance (ie the existence of Park Avenue) has prevented it in the past, however now is the time for Bradford Council to help make things happen for the city's top club in it's top sport, instead of pandering to a noisy minority, a large number of whom have no stake in the city as it is.

[Bullseye]

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:12 am  

Asim wrote:

At the end of the day the council, and the city, gains nothing by having a successful RL team, our three times world champions would probably get plenty of blank expressions if the name was put to someone as close as Sheffield.

It's time Bradford Council sacked off any sort of link to the Bulls (most of the fans aren't from Bradford anyway), forgot about any silly sporting village where they would be main beneficiaries, and start giving some financial support to the team playing football, success in which could put Bradford on the sporting map.

You've surpassed yourself there!

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:22 am  

Bullseye wrote:

:lol: You've surpassed yourself there!

Indeed. For what it's worth, having lived in London for five years I can tell you that most people even vaguely interested in sport know that the rugby team in Bradford is callled the Bulls, and further more is about the only thing they know that the city has going for it other than curry. Chomp chomp chomp.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:39 am  

af wrote:

Indeed. For what it's worth, having lived in London for five years I can tell you that most people even vaguely interested in sport know that the rugby team in Bradford is callled the Bulls, and further more is about the only thing they know that the city has going for it other than curry. Chomp chomp chomp.

In six years in Manchester my Bulls shirt (now burnt) was only ever identified by people who thought it was a basketball or ice hockey team.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:45 am  

Asim wrote:

In six years in Manchester my Bulls shirt (now burnt) was only ever identified by people who thought it was a basketball or ice hockey team.

Maybe when half the BBC staff decamp from London the recognition rate will improve.