The lease thing would be easy for the RFL to sort out, as we know the price (morally, the same as what they paid the Bulls for it). As it is, we are entirely reliant on RFL for the long term future of rugby at Odsal, because under the head lease, the playing of rugby is only safeguarded to May 2019. The question for the RFL is, what are the true intentions of the bidder, and could they do anything to prevent the bidder (for example) taking the mick in years to come and making a killing at rugby's expense.
It's not easy for the RFL. Whatever the circumstances when they took the lease, they said what they said, and they have effectively a duty now and a responsibility to the wider game, of which they are custodians, to stick to their word. If they sell the lease then it is obviously impossible for them to exercise any further control over what happens at Odsal
From a bidder's perspective, the money side is pretty simple; you don't need money, as if your proposal for what you want to do with the ground stacks up commercially, then you can get funding from the banks and financiers. The problems are that both the RFL as our landlord, and indeed the Council as head landlord and site owner, have to be seen to be looking after the fans and the club and rugby in Bradford, but those are plainly non-commercial obstacles to making money which would be seen as a hindrance and an obstacle by your average lender.
So it boils down to whether the bidder is prepared to commit in writing to the same sort of safeguards as the RFL said they wanted to ensure, but which aren't in the lease. I want the Bulls to survive, but what would the fans say about the RFL if they let a bidder pull the wool, and ended up ending rugby at Odsal and making a killing? So i can't blame the RFL for being extremely cautious.
