Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:35 am  

dboy wrote:

The RFL made a secret loan to Bulls to keep them from going pop.

When they couldn't pay it back, they pretended to "buy" the lease to stop "predatory speculators getting their hands on Odsal".

Now you can't afford the rent.

The secret deals, advancing central funds, the sham lease purchase, all done to save a basket case.

This is why Hudgell, Carter and Davy wanted SL clubs to buy the lease...they feared its value would be written off to further help the Bulls.

That’s right apart from one point. The rent isn’t the issue. It’s the 500k a year in rates and maintenance costs.

The maintenance costs are increasing too as the ground is falling to bits.

The rfl obviously can’t afford to right off what they’ve invested so far in this mess and can’t afford to take on the responsibility of securing the site without a tennant.

It’s not really Chalmers problem though. Those decisions were made 10 years ago by people no longer linked to either organisation.

It’s also why they wouldn’t allow the basket case club to die it’s rightful death so that people could start again from the bottom in 2017.

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:55 pm  

Maccbull_BigBullyBooaza wrote:

That’s right apart from one point. The rent isn’t the issue. It’s the 500k a year in rates and maintenance costs.

The maintenance costs are increasing too as the ground is falling to bits.

The rfl obviously can’t afford to right off what they’ve invested so far in this mess and can’t afford to take on the responsibility of securing the site without a tennant.

It’s not really Chalmers problem though. Those decisions were made 10 years ago by people no longer linked to either organisation.

It’s also why they wouldn’t allow the basket case club to die it’s rightful death so that people could start again from the bottom in 2017.

The current position just shows what a mickey poor decision it was to, first of all, to loan the 700k in the first place and although there seemed little option other than to take on the lease when the old, old, Bulls failed.
Having said that, I just dont get how the Bulls will prosper at Dewsbury.
Moving away from their home City, albeit into a ground that they can rent relatively cheaply, will inevitably lead to loss of your fan base and unless there is some on field success and/ or a new facility found in Bradford, this could be a slow lingering death.
From the outside looking in, surely it would be better for all concerned to find either a new solution for returning to Odsal or some kind of share with your footballing neighbours ?
I can remember comments previously that Valley Parade had some issues but, surely, it would be better for Bradford to be playing in Bradford and not moving to the Wakefield district.
The 2-4 year timescale for a return looks hugely optimistic.
Just remember how long the council took to open the new shopping complex in the middle of your city and there would be more people driving that scheme than a new ground for your club.

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 3:15 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

The current position just shows what a mickey poor decision it was to, first of all, to loan the 700k in the first place and although there seemed little option other than to take on the lease when the old, old, Bulls failed.
Having said that, I just dont get how the Bulls will prosper at Dewsbury.
Moving away from their home City, albeit into a ground that they can rent relatively cheaply, will inevitably lead to loss of your fan base and unless there is some on field success and/ or a new facility found in Bradford, this could be a slow lingering death.
From the outside looking in, surely it would be better for all concerned to find either a new solution for returning to Odsal or some kind of share with your footballing neighbours ?
I can remember comments previously that Valley Parade had some issues but, surely, it would be better for Bradford to be playing in Bradford and not moving to the Wakefield district.
The 2-4 year timescale for a return looks hugely optimistic.
Just remember how long the council took to open the new shopping complex in the middle of your city and there would be more people driving that scheme than a new ground for your club.

Dewsbury is in Kirklees not Wakefield and a move to valley parade would cost 750k a year which defeats the point of moving.

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:25 pm  

I'm a tad confused?

Maccbull_BigBullyBooaza wrote:

The rent isn’t the issue. It’s the 500k a year in rates and maintenance costs.

bulls2487 wrote:

Also in tomorrow's League Paper RFL have to now find 500k a year to pay the rates on Odsal

Of the £500k, how much is the annual rates bill?

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 8:27 pm  

Rates are low 6 figures. As part of a lease though, generally there are expectations to keep the facility in a similar level of maintenance. Whether those expectations now contractually revert to the RFL- who knows?

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 8:53 pm  

Highlander wrote:

Rates are low 6 figures. As part of a lease though, generally there are expectations to keep the facility in a similar level of maintenance. Whether those expectations now contractually revert to the RFL- who knows?

If I understand the system correctly, business rates are the rateable value (£105k) multiplied by the poundage (49.3p in the pound) or about £52k. This will still need to be paid (presumably by the RFL) when Bradford leave as the rateable value is above £12k.

Maintenance will likely revert to the RFL BUT, Bradford will almost certainly be required to leave the property in a state that allows for wear and tear. Last time I was there it looked as though there was quite a lot of maintenance required that would be difficult to assign to simply W&T so the soon to be ex-tenants may find themselves lumbered with a fairly costly leaving present

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:12 pm  

Mr Dog wrote:

If I understand the system correctly, business rates are the rateable value (£105k) multiplied by the poundage (49.3p in the pound) or about £52k. This will still need to be paid (presumably by the RFL) when Bradford leave as the rateable value is above £12k.

Maintenance will likely revert to the RFL BUT, Bradford will almost certainly be required to leave the property in a state that allows for wear and tear. Last time I was there it looked as though there was quite a lot of maintenance required that would be difficult to assign to simply W&T so the soon to be ex-tenants may find themselves lumbered with a fairly costly leaving present

Not really, as the company has only been at Odsal for 30 months or so and the state is similar to what is was then

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:28 pm  

What about training facility at tong?

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:40 pm  

dboy wrote:

I don't follow the podcast.

I don't expect you to take my word for it. You will believe what you want to believe.

Special measures is not something imposed on a whim...there are financial issues at Bulls, all centred around budgeting on making the play-off final.

Bulls pay ridiculous FT wages.

How do you know what FT wages the Bulls pay??

Re: Bradford : Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:49 pm  

djhudds wrote:

What about training facility at tong?

That’s a direct contract with the council. No reason to believe that won’t continue.