Coulby and Agar back on Bradford Bulls board as EGM scrapped (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

ADMINISTRATION NEVER - BULLS FOREVER!!!

Finally, things are properly on the move! Hopefully, Caisley and his colleagues can sort the club out and get us going in the right direction.
I know people are sceptical of him coming back, and I am one of them as I don't know what to believe, however, my thoughts are also that Caisley didn't have to come back or even try, but he has. I will therefore be giving him my full support in the hope that he can salvage the club!
Just hope the finances are not in a worse state than we have been told and that this "sound business plan" Hood spoke of is truly achievable!
COYB.

barbarian mike wrote:
Finally, things are properly on the move! Hopefully, Caisley and his colleagues can sort the club out and get us going in the right direction. I know people are sceptical of him coming back, and I am one of them as I don't know what to believe, however, my thoughts are also that Caisley didn't have to come back or even try, but he has. I will therefore be giving him my full support in the hope that he can salvage the club! Just hope the finances are not in a worse state than we have been told and that this "sound business plan" Hood spoke of is truly achievable! COYB.

dont forget that as the major share holder he has a vested interest in trying to sort this mess out, if the club fails his shares are worthless . and if for no other rerason i think this is why he will do all he can to salvage the club.

Blackie-Lawless wrote:

barbarian mike wrote:
Finally, things are properly on the move! Hopefully, Caisley and his colleagues can sort the club out and get us going in the right direction. I know people are sceptical of him coming back, and I am one of them as I don't know what to believe, however, my thoughts are also that Caisley didn't have to come back or even try, but he has. I will therefore be giving him my full support in the hope that he can salvage the club! Just hope the finances are not in a worse state than we have been told and that this "sound business plan" Hood spoke of is truly achievable! COYB.

dont forget that as the major share holder he has a vested interest in trying to sort this mess out, if the club fails his shares are worthless . and if for no other rerason i think this is why he will do all he can to salvage the club.

I think all shareholders will have that vested interest - that would include Bennett, Hood, Caisley, Agar etc....

Positive news

Hope that its quickly sorted out so that the club can get on with signing some more of these youngsters up before the other clubs do.

Steam Pigs wrote:

Blackie-Lawless wrote:

barbarian mike wrote:
Finally, things are properly on the move! Hopefully, Caisley and his colleagues can sort the club out and get us going in the right direction. I know people are sceptical of him coming back, and I am one of them as I don't know what to believe, however, my thoughts are also that Caisley didn't have to come back or even try, but he has. I will therefore be giving him my full support in the hope that he can salvage the club! Just hope the finances are not in a worse state than we have been told and that this "sound business plan" Hood spoke of is truly achievable! COYB.

dont forget that as the major share holder he has a vested interest in trying to sort this mess out, if the club fails his shares are worthless . and if for no other rerason i think this is why he will do all he can to salvage the club.

I think all shareholders will have that vested interest - that would include Bennett, Hood, Caisley, Agar etc....

As the EGM has been cancelled all the small shareholders have now lost their chance to have a say, of course. Not that I'd disagree with cancelling, as it's clearly better for the club to crack on and do whatever must be done, ASAP and hopefully not go down the Admin route.

Some light at the end of the tunnel, begins to appear. With the help of caisleys' expertise, the auditor, and the investment consultant. (a good move, will know who has the cash and wants to invest in a sports club), though only if the original investors decide not to invest.

Blackie-Lawless wrote:

barbarian mike wrote:
Finally, things are properly on the move! Hopefully, Caisley and his colleagues can sort the club out and get us going in the right direction. I know people are sceptical of him coming back, and I am one of them as I don't know what to believe, however, my thoughts are also that Caisley didn't have to come back or even try, but he has. I will therefore be giving him my full support in the hope that he can salvage the club! Just hope the finances are not in a worse state than we have been told and that this "sound business plan" Hood spoke of is truly achievable! COYB.

dont forget that as the major share holder he has a vested interest in trying to sort this mess out, if the club fails his shares are worthless . and if for no other rerason i think this is why he will do all he can to salvage the club.

His shares are ALREADY worthless. He owns 25% of a debt. No prizes for guessing that equates to nothing. He takes the club into administration, wipes the debt, buys the club for a pittance and ends up owning 75% of the shares of a debt free club.
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Trust me, others have said it too, administration is the best option for Caisley if he can get the club after.
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It is a worry. No doubt.
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I may be wrong, but believe me, in business terms, administration is a distinct and positive choice for Caisley.
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Think about from a business point fo view people.

There are some good points made today both for avoiding administration and as Blackie say’s there are clear business reasons for administration. My thoughts here are that the Bulls rely totally on the loyalty of about 10,000 customers (supporters) to survive in the black. This is why I think we must do the right thing and do all we can to avoid admin. It would harm too many of our local suppliers and leave a very sour taste to me. I am in the same boat as Barbarian regarding not feeling comfortable with Caisley but I have lived my life with the Northern/Bulls being a big part of it so I will give him my support now. The bickering must now stop and everyone must pull together. We do have some terrific youngsters and a good coach watched by 10,000 great fans. It isn’t all bad if these guys can sort the finances out in the next few months. As long as they will try to stay out of admin my gut feeling is that things have just got a little better – but time will tell!

Lets hope Caisley providing expert consultancy services does not include players contracts.

I may be wrong but if memory serves me right one of the decisions taken in 1964, when the club was reborn, was that no one individual should ever again hold a majority shareholding. Trevor Foster and Joe Phillips were adamant that one individual should never again have the power to decide how the club was run. If that is still the case then Mr. Caisley could not aquire 75% of the shares.

BN1934 wrote:
I may be wrong but if memory serves me right one of the decisions taken in 1964, when the club was reborn, was that no one individual should ever again hold a majority shareholding. Trevor Foster and Joe Phillips were adamant that one individual should never again have the power to decide how the club was run. If that is still the case then Mr. Caisley could not aquire 75% of the shares.

That may be true for the current holding company. If we go into admin then the new holding company can structure shareholding however it wants.

Well I read it over again as I thought from the comments I must have missed something. Can anyone tell me where the "positive news" or the "light at the end of the tunnel"? We are about to have a 'strategic review' which will tell us whether ther is anything worth saving and are 'negotiating' with potential investers which has been on going for weeks and may or may not lead to anything. I look forward to positive news but there's nothing above to indicate any. They have virtually told us nothing and said there will be no further comment in the near future.

One positive Murpheylaw is that two apparently intelligent blokes have agreed to become directors of a business in trouble. I wouldn’t do that if I thought that it was doomed. I hope they have seen that things can be sorted out and that they feel that they are not taking many big risks. I may be wrong, but that was my first thoughts – why take responsibility of something that can’t be saved. They may still make out that things are terrible so they give themselves a cushion if it takes a little longer to sort it. I expect them to say things are bad. If it was irretrievable would you become a director on the eve of it folding? I am no financial expert but this is my initial thoughts from the above picture.
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Can someone please give me some insight into these two gentleman’s backgrounds? Are they just fans with a little bit of spare cash or successful businessmen?

whilst I agree with some of what has been said for example you wouldnt expect too allegedly intelligent men to put their names to this if it was doomed to failure, I personally see nothing positive from the comments, what exactly have they said that hasnt already been said, from my perspective they have said nothing new

I am not reassured by some of the comments from Caisley and the new board regarding the financial viability of the club. Of course they need to pour over the books to discover the full extent of the club's liabilities but what if the finances are in a worse state than was anticipated? One thing is certain. The situation is going to be half a million pounds better than it would have been thanks to the fan's generosity. If the board then decide to take the club into administration we might as well have thrown our pledged money off the top of Blackpool Tower instead of
handing it over. If administration is the only solution this could have been done before the fans donated as all debts would be wiped. I want some assurances that administration is a non-option.

I just hope that the new incumbants are more up front than Hood and his cohorts. We all agree that PR wasn't something high on the agenda of the previous set up, I just hope the same doesn't happen again. I made my donation of £100 immediately the begging letter was delivered. As a member, and shareholder, my email address was known and I'm still waiting for a "thank-you."
I certainly hope Caisley can turn the club around. I'm one of the few remaining that has actually seen Bradford win at Wembley ( v Halifax). I earnestly want to see them do it again.

I can still vaguely remember the first time Caisley held the reins. Times were very good at Odsal. If he can bring half of that success back then i will be a happy man. COYB for the sake of rugby league.

Kellington Bull my father was there in 1949, he's 88 now, and has many memories of the northern, as have i, having gone from the age of 3. He remembers the problems that surrounded the northern after the Dai Rees era, that ended with going out of the league in the sixties. Proving success does not always breed success. today's situation is something similar, he hopes that he doesn't see his beloved team go under for a second time, during his lifetime.

Prycey wrote:
There are some good points made today both for avoiding administration and as Blackie say’s there are clear business reasons for administration. My thoughts here are that the Bulls rely totally on the loyalty of about 10,000 customers (supporters) to survive in the black. This is why I think we must do the right thing and do all we can to avoid admin. It would harm too many of our local suppliers and leave a very sour taste to me. I am in the same boat as Barbarian regarding not feeling comfortable with Caisley but I have lived my life with the Northern/Bulls being a big part of it so I will give him my support now. The bickering must now stop and everyone must pull together. We do have some terrific youngsters and a good coach watched by 10,000 great fans. It isn’t all bad if these guys can sort the finances out in the next few months. As long as they will try to stay out of admin my gut feeling is that things have just got a little better – but time will tell!

Will you still have 10,000 customers if your season tickets are brought more in line with what fans of other clubs pay?

Shelfrhino wrote:

Prycey wrote:
There are some good points made today both for avoiding administration and as Blackie say’s there are clear business reasons for administration. My thoughts here are that the Bulls rely totally on the loyalty of about 10,000 customers (supporters) to survive in the black. This is why I think we must do the right thing and do all we can to avoid admin. It would harm too many of our local suppliers and leave a very sour taste to me. I am in the same boat as Barbarian regarding not feeling comfortable with Caisley but I have lived my life with the Northern/Bulls being a big part of it so I will give him my support now. The bickering must now stop and everyone must pull together. We do have some terrific youngsters and a good coach watched by 10,000 great fans. It isn’t all bad if these guys can sort the finances out in the next few months. As long as they will try to stay out of admin my gut feeling is that things have just got a little better – but time will tell!

Will you still have 10,000 customers if your season tickets are brought more in line with what fans of other clubs pay?

more that rhinos would have had if Le**s Utd had still been a Premiership club. Talk about glory hunters. 1970's teams singing "Marching on together" yuchhhhhh!!!!!

Los Torres wrote:

Shelfrhino wrote:

Prycey wrote:
There are some good points made today both for avoiding administration and as Blackie say’s there are clear business reasons for administration. My thoughts here are that the Bulls rely totally on the loyalty of about 10,000 customers (supporters) to survive in the black. This is why I think we must do the right thing and do all we can to avoid admin. It would harm too many of our local suppliers and leave a very sour taste to me. I am in the same boat as Barbarian regarding not feeling comfortable with Caisley but I have lived my life with the Northern/Bulls being a big part of it so I will give him my support now. The bickering must now stop and everyone must pull together. We do have some terrific youngsters and a good coach watched by 10,000 great fans. It isn’t all bad if these guys can sort the finances out in the next few months. As long as they will try to stay out of admin my gut feeling is that things have just got a little better – but time will tell!

Will you still have 10,000 customers if your season tickets are brought more in line with what fans of other clubs pay?

more that rhinos would have had if Le**s Utd had still been a Premiership club. Talk about glory hunters. 1970's teams singing "Marching on together" yuchhhhhh!!!!!

What a silly answer to a genuine question.
Your club dropped season ticket prices to attract more fans, now this doesn't seem to be the way forwards any more do the non retarded posters think you will still get gates of 10,000+ with a more expensive season ticket price policy?
Leeds Utd have nothing to do with this subject any more that the Bantams do in relation to the bulls crowds.

Shelfrhino - I think we will get approx 6000 supporters who would be willing to pay the full price lets be honest most of us who gave £100 have paid the full price this year. What the club need to do is offer cheap game deals for games such as London & Catalans as there is little away support. The whole game day experience has been mis-managed for several years now the atmosphere at some games this year has been magnificant so yes I think we can sustain with full price tickets.

bullybullman wrote:
Shelfrhino - I think we will get approx 6000 supporters who would be willing to pay the full price lets be honest most of us who gave £100 have paid the full price this year. What the club need to do is offer cheap game deals for games such as London & Catalans as there is little away support. The whole game day experience has been mis-managed for several years now the atmosphere at some games this year has been magnificant so yes I think we can sustain with full price tickets.

Even 6000 is a bit optimistic as in the past the hardcore has been around 4500 but give the Bulls the old Caisley/Deakin style game-day back and the gates will improve. We need also to remember national austerity and the general state of Rugby League to realise just how hard things are going to be for whoever has the task of trying to get us back on track and there is a real possibility things won't work out quite as some expect.

I don't contribute as much as sum of the regular lot , some friendly some not , but although I now live in Liverpool , I was born and bred in Bradford and been a supporter for 60 years , I am not caisley's biggest fan but I hope he does the right thing and not go Down the administration route , if he does I believe that the man would not dare show his face at odsal ever again, stay with the fans mr caisley do the right thing . The supporters raised half a million , don't make it for nothing , prove me wrong , safe our club ,keep us informed, bulls forever
Liverpoolbull

Ha Ha, you have all paid your pounds to a group of businessmen who are going to take the club into admin as soon as the season is over.
More chance of your money being spent on accountants than the club and its players.
You Suckers, £500,000 of Sadfords money wasted.
Faxlad :-)

Can anyone enlighten me as to the legal status of all the monies pledged or actually given.
Are they loans or gifts or will the fans and many other generous people never actually know.
Did the money allow the clubs debt to be significantly reduced thereby allowing Any of the directors loans to be repaid.
or the bank overdraft to be repaid to a level that would allow the directors personal homes not to be on ther line anymore.
Transparency does not seem to have been top of the agenda.
So back comes Mr Caisley.
As a shareholder of some significance you fans have just made him far better off than he was before your half a million.
And indeed all the shareholders.
Honour would say your brass should be rewarded with shares as you have collectively in all probability through your generosity saved the bulls.
Caisleys shares were probably pretty wothless and why not as under his previous watch he put the club into something of a financial pickle.
He did negotiate through his legal prowess a pretty good sum from the council.
When they had to stump up some millions years back as part of the tenancy settlement.
Then perhaps blew it on a very poor legal decision re Harriss.
And a stand that is mainly for the corparate world but all the same allowed DEakin to be able to offer something other than the risk of hyperthermia and a growler to keep warm at half time for the sponsors.
Well fans you deserve to be told where your brass has gone.
If Mr Hood was an accountant I am suprised at the lack of transparency.
But here come the mercenaries to pick up the spoils