el red wrote:
As someone from the outside looking in my thoughts are that the Bulls have every right to seek action in the high court if correct procedures have not been followed. It may not suit the rest of us but they have rights under law.
In previous seasons where points have been deducted there has been no relegation so the worst that could happen is you miss out on the top eight. Do you really think other clubs would have just meekly accepted points deductions if there was a chance they may get relegated, I don't.
The other issue here is the Sky money, the rest of Super League was happy to take the Bulls cut and effectively put them points in arrears even before the season started. So before the points deduction they were not on a level playing field to every other team, remember it was the Bulls previous (discredited) board that accepted that scenario, not the new board and owners.
The easiest way out for everybody is to put back the structural changes by one season. A lot of people were against the changes anyway and it was pretty much forced through by the RFL, and only by some clubs refusing to vote (the reasons for that are very murky and have never been disclosed).
The whole thing is a mess and I put a massive part of that blame at the RFL's door. Everyone says they are not fit to run the game, especially some club owners so why is everyone quick to defend them.
You say that putting the new structures back by 1 season is "the easiest way out" but it would certainly put the brakes on for the likes of Fev, Halifax etc.
By going into admin they will certainly have expected a points deduction and as many people have said (especially on this forum), they had a choice.
Either protect an overpaid squad (with all the associated risks) or, cut costs heavily (again with the associated risks)
With regard to what the previous board accepted.
The clear fact is that rightly or wrongly they did accept the previous sanctions and the new owner came in clearly knowing what the possibilities were.
If he didn't know, he has certainly received some poor advice.
It's time to move on and in Salford's or Wakefield's position, be very grateful that it was Bradford and not ourselves that went pop.
