23 replies to this topic

[HARRYRUBY]

Now its official.

Super League Europe on behalf of the clubs are to purchase Bradford Bulls to safegaurd its future.

Just confirms what the priorities of the clubs in super league is.

Super League is all that matters to them.

The rest of the clubs in the pro league should divorce themeselves from SL.

Start again and let them have SL to themeselves.

[sheddings69]

Couldn't agree more Harry

[higgy]

What a disgrace, agree fully leave them to it and lets have proper rugby.

[Tony Mac]

What a crazy situation where all the other clubs in the league have a stake in another club in the same league. I can't think of any other sport that would even consider something like this. What must we look like to the other sports and their supporters? What happens if other clubs get into the same situation, would the RFL purchase them aswell? Surely, come the next round of awarding of franchises, there is a real conflict of interest? Unless the RFL have now given assurances that Bradford's SL status will remain.

In any other sport it would beggar belief but the RFL seem to be on another planet.


Tony Mac
Chin Up, Chest Out

[BOLTON ROUGHYED]

Thing is..... Every fan of a non Super League club who pays to watch test matches, pointless games against the Exiles, Super League grand Finals, Challenge cup finals etc is lining the pockets of Super League.
There were plenty of fans from non Super League clubs who went to the magic weekend for example. If non S/L fans boycotted such events, believe me... The RFL would have to listen...

[morty]

Joke.....

[RogerT]

As I said on another forum, its a shame that CC,CC1 and other leagues don't break away, the only trouble is there would not be the finance to do this. Let Super League stew in their own juices.

But it will never happen.

[SINGE]

Utterly shameful decision.
Sends completely the wrong message.
Shame all clubs canot be treated the same.....

[HARRYRUBY]

Only thing I can think off is that as the proposal by one interested party has been turned down for whatever reason and time is running out then SLE have purchased the Bulls to safegaurd its immediate future until a suitable buyer comes along.

If SLE and the RFL could gaurentee that all clubs would be treated the same then its setting a precedent for the future which may be to the detriment of the game.

What we need ios someone to sponsor teams outside SL to allow the Championship teams to flourish.

Pity we cant get the owners of city ( or the like ) interested in rugby league.

Or could we?

[Slimjaguar]

Thing is..... Every fan of a non Super League club who pays to watch test matches, pointless games against the Exiles, Super League grand Finals, Challenge cup finals etc is lining the pockets of Super League.
There were plenty of fans from non Super League clubs who went to the magic weekend for example. If non S/L fans boycotted such events, believe me... The RFL would have to listen...

Hi Chris, bang on mate.

[Roughyedz]

Whilst I agree with most of the posts on here that the buy out of Bradford by The R F L is ..........stupid ...........would any of you have complained or still have been unhappy if the RFL had bought out Oldham before Mr Hamilton did 13 years or so ago now ??? ............ of courese NOT

[Tony Mac]

Whilst I agree with most of the posts on here that the buy out of Bradford by The R F L is ..........stupid ...........would any of you have complained or still have been unhappy if the RFL had bought out Oldham before Mr Hamilton did 13 years or so ago now ??? ............ of courese NOT

Hi Roughyedz,

Of course we wouldn't have complained or been unhappy if the RFL had bought out Oldham 13 years or so ago, or at least I wouldn't have thought so. I believe what people, in particular me, are unhappy about is that, once again, the rules change to suit. It should be either the RFL do help out clubs or they don't. There shouldn't be any picking and choosing of who to save. The RFL should have let the Bradford saga run it's course as they did with Oldham and not interfered as they have done. What makes any one club more important than another?


Tony Mac
Chin Up, Chest Out

[Bedford Roughyed]

They are saving bradford as a holding position until the off season. The offers on the table are dodgy or full of conditions that the RFL wouldn't agree to (getting odsal back and guarentee of SL, yes the RFL who are only in it for SL wouldn't guarentee SL next season ).

The only reason it's happening is that it's mid season.

The same people who slag the RFL for not helping heartland RL clubs are now slagging the RFL for helping a heartland RL club.

[Tony Mac]

They are saving bradford as a holding position until the off season. The offers on the table are dodgy or full of conditions that the RFL wouldn't agree to (getting odsal back and guarentee of SL, yes the RFL who are only in it for SL wouldn't guarentee SL next season ).

The only reason it's happening is that it's mid season.

The same people who slag the RFL for not helping heartland RL clubs are now slagging the RFL for helping a heartland RL club.

Hi BR,

I honestly believe, and I think the RFL believe, that the RFL are helping a SL club and Heartland has no bearing whatsoever on their decision. And I believe there is a big difference. Had this been any club in SL then the outcome would most certainly have been the same. Had this been a Heartland club outside of SL then there would be very little help, if any. There have been many Heartland clubs in the lower divisions who have gone into Administration or close to it and the RFL have sat on their hands doing nothing. The first time a SL club looks like going to the wall and they are there to help by buying it.

Once again, there appears to be differing trains of thought from the powers that be depending on which club is in trouble and which league they are in. That is certainly why I have differing views about what the RFL does or doesn't do for clubs.


Tony Mac
Chin Up, Chest Out

Edited by Tony Mac, 07 August 2012 - 01:42 PM.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Lesson is, go bust mid-season as it forces the RFL's hand.

Keighley's ground issues - sorted by the RFL (same as what they did with Bradford, bought the leasehold).
Rochdale loan - RFL provided cash (it's why the RFL now own 48% of Spotland).
Doncaster - transfered the licence away from the owner to a rival group
Oldham - lets us play in substandard ground.

How many other clubs have got loans of the RFL?

Other clubs have had Sky/RFL money in advance. Didn't Leigh get a loan to stave off administration?

Some clubs have greater chance of saving, like anything in life sadly.

[BUZZYBEE]

Rochdale loan - RFL provided cash (it's why the RFL now own 48% of Spotland).

The old board borrowed money from Rfl and used the shares as collateral this was quite some time before they then went onto administration , the loan was unpaid, so shares then became Rfls and remain with them as the newly formed cooperative was/is not in a postion to buy them back, but who knows what the future brings ,also if my memory serves me correct Hornets went into administration after the season had finished and the new club was formed in the Jaanuary

[saints10coach]

An educated guess would say that the RFL new Hornets were about to go under and they secured the shares to stop them all from going to RFC, so RL could be continued to be played there in the future.

[SINGE]

They are saving bradford as a holding position until the off season. The offers on the table are dodgy or full of conditions that the RFL wouldn't agree to (getting odsal back and guarentee of SL, yes the RFL who are only in it for SL wouldn't guarentee SL next season ).

The only reason it's happening is that it's mid season.

The same people who slag the RFL for not helping heartland RL clubs are now slagging the RFL for helping a heartland RL club.

Helping is one thing. Buying out another.
THere is atrend
Rougheds Nowt
Hornets Ground
Bulls Whole Club

Whatever next...?

[SINGE]

Hi BR,

I honestly believe, and I think the RFL believe, that the RFL are helping a SL club and Heartland has no bearing whatsoever on their decision. And I believe there is a big difference. Had this been any club in SL then the outcome would most certainly have been the same. Had this been a Heartland club outside of SL then there would be very little help, if any. There have been many Heartland clubs in the lower divisions who have gone into Administration or close to it and the RFL have sat on their hands doing nothing. The first time a SL club looks like going to the wall and they are there to help by buying it.

Once again, there appears to be differing trains of thought from the powers that be depending on which club is in trouble and which league they are in. That is certainly why I have differing views about what the RFL does or doesn't do for clubs.


Tony Mac
Chin Up, Chest Out

spot on

[SINGE]

Even the mighty Rangers were made to fall. And they were worth far more money.
Propoertinately and in total.

If only there were promotion and relegation....
Makes a mockery of the Franchise system
How can they be kept in, on any measure?