City out of race to take over Bulls (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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But Bantams boss says the club could still step up if other bids for the side fail
8:00am Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in Bantams
By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter
Bulls legend Trevor Foster MBE
Bradford City Football Club has left the race to save its sporting rivals Bradford Bulls from collapse, it was revealed last night.
Julian Rhodes, Bantams’ co-chairman, told the Telegraph & Argus the club was no longer in the running to take over the stricken Super League side, but could still step up if other bids on the table fail.
The Rugby Football League had set a deadline of yesterday for four parties vying to buy the club to submit their formal business plans – including football club Bradford Park Avenue, Bradford businessman Omar Khan and Super League (Europe).
But Mr Rhodes last night confirmed Bradford City had decided not to draw up a business plan and had told the governing body to “come back to us” if it could not strike a deal with another party.
He said: “If all else fails they can talk to us, but we hope one of these bids comes off.
“We only entered the race when there was no one else, but other buyers have come out of the woodwork now.
“We haven’t submitted a business plan and have told the RFL that if they do not get anywhere to come back to us. We’ve left it at that.”
Former Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, who is supporting Mr Khan’s bid, revealed a business plan from the restaurant owner was handed into the RFL on Monday night.
He said he believed all submissions would be discussed during a meeting tomorrow.
Bob Blackburn, the chief executive of Bradford Park Avenue, declined to comment when asked by the T&A last night if he had submitted a business plan.
An RFL spokesman confirmed a deadline had been set and a meeting would be held later this week.
SUPPORT FOR HARDSHIP FUND
A hardship fund set up to help staff made redundant when the club entered administration has won the support of the son of Bulls legend Trevor Foster MBE, who helped the club when it was last in
crisis in 1964.
Simon Foster said his father, who died at the age of 90 in April 2005, had raised up to £90,000 during his 67-year association with the club, for projects including the floodlights appeal, ground
improvements, gym equipment and youth football.
Mr Foster said: “My father would have been the first to get involved with such a worthy initiative particularly since it is the Bulls supporters who are at the heart of the fundraising efforts and
he spent many happy hours at Odsal coaching and developing young players which is a key aim of BullBuilder.
“The immediate funds raised will help in no small way to ensure that Bulls staff and volunteers are better looked after during this most challenging period.”
For more information about BullBuilder, visit bullbuilder.co.uk. To donate to the hardship fund, which has now raised more than £15,000, go to bullbuilder.co.uk/hardship.
Comments(29)
angry bradfordian
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8:45am Wed 22 Aug 12
johntheumpire
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9:00am Wed 22 Aug 12
raisemeup
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9:04am Wed 22 Aug 12
One could never complain at the sentiments of this intervention, and as for submitting a business plan. If other bids are more likely to succeed, why go to the expense of writing one for someone else. Business plans are usually a confidential tool for your company and your Bank Manager.
But I for one thank Bradford City and applaud Julian Rhodes for what they have tried to do for the Bulls.
Prycey
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9:42am Wed 22 Aug 12
lonniejockstrap
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10:01am Wed 22 Aug 12
Tatecastre
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10:11am Wed 22 Aug 12
murphyslaw
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10:27am Wed 22 Aug 12
Prycey wrote:I think the comment regarding the "sorry tale drags into the close season" looks about right. Any new owner will find it very difficult to cobble together the necessary on and off field requirements before the start of the new season. Expect more to withdraw their interest.
It looks like the Khan bid to me could be the only one as he is the only one who might have two pennies to rub together. Apparently, the avenue owner doesn't have the money just a sensible dream of both clubs using Odsal - which would be a good venture. The RFL only want it for a short time till someone else steps in. That leaves Khan. I heard at the weekend that there are others who will step in when the RFL get it and dispose of the administrator. They are just waiting for administration to be ended. The Khan bid looks like a mix of him with backing off the council. This could be OK or we may need to see the RFL take over and then the offers start all over again and this whole sorry tale drags into the close season with the coaches and staff being in limbo for many months to come. Let’s hope Mr Khan does have serious money and business ideas for Odsal and the council will back him with non-monetary help and services.
Mumby was the best
says...
10:27am Wed 22 Aug 12
Tatecastre wrote:Maybe waiting to see if SLE takeover and deal with them rather than Caisley`s puppet!!!
So, all the talk of greenwoods and their Chinese owners. Just pie in the sky, then.
BCFC LAD
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10:59am Wed 22 Aug 12
Tatecastre
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11:03am Wed 22 Aug 12
Mumby was the best
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11:07am Wed 22 Aug 12
Tatecastre
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12:02pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Reality50
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12:59pm Wed 22 Aug 12
raisemeup
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3:20pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Reality50 wrote:You really don't know what you are talking about do you?
Stop flogging a dead horse!!! A number of Bulls fans I know think Bulls after the next couple of games should liquidate and start afresh as a phoenix club.Bulls lost their right as an SL franchise club when this farce began and everyday this carries on the name of the club and the sport is dragged through the mud.Liquidate and do what Glasgow Rangers did and showed great dignity in starting again in the bottom division.
Do you think a club that has spent the best part of 16 years in shaping the future of Super League, can do all that you suggest and start at the bottom to once again begin, the long process of getting back into the top flight once more. You haven't experienced it have you.
And let me tell you, great dignity, as you put it , doesn't exist when you go to buy the groceries, to coin an analogy.
I would rather we closed the doors than be the bottom of the pile once more...unlike you I remember 1963 and 382 fans watching our last game there's very little dignity in that either.
raisemeup
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3:25pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Reality50 wrote:PS Sorry forgot your trollishness, my reply wasn't to you...more of a generalisation.
Stop flogging a dead horse!!! A number of Bulls fans I know think Bulls after the next couple of games should liquidate and start afresh as a phoenix club.Bulls lost their right as an SL franchise club when this farce began and everyday this carries on the name of the club and the sport is dragged through the mud.Liquidate and do what Glasgow Rangers did and showed great dignity in starting again in the bottom division.
murphyslaw
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3:39pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Tatecastre wrote:Yep! I do understand that. Point being the bid needs to be accepted and approved with enough time for the plan to be implemented and theres no certainty that will happen. Feet, dragging and RFL spring to mind.
Murphys'law, any one who made a bid, should have had a business plan in place from the outset. The business plan now presented would have been, " a firmed up one " how much cash in place. What they intend to do with odsal, eg re upgrading facilities. Most of all who's going to be operating the club. And are they fit people.
Eddie Tees
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3:54pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Reality50 wrote:Rangers have the chance to get back in the Prem in a couple of years with promotion. Would be 2017 before we have a chance
Stop flogging a dead horse!!! A number of Bulls fans I know think Bulls after the next couple of games should liquidate and start afresh as a phoenix club.Bulls lost their right as an SL franchise club when this farce began and everyday this carries on the name of the club and the sport is dragged through the mud.Liquidate and do what Glasgow Rangers did and showed great dignity in starting again in the bottom division.
BCFC LAD
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4:32pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Pablo
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4:35pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Tatecastre
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8:01pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Correctness
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8:01pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Mumby was the best
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8:20pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Correctness wrote:So you have inside info which you can`t divulge!!!!!
City have enough on their plate in keeping their own finances in order as I would expect to come to light during this season. Please leave the Bulls to the one's that have money to safe the club and you will all receive a bit of a surprise in a couple of weeks when all comes out and people identify themselves!!!!!
New Hall Nev
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11:15pm Wed 22 Aug 12
portugalbull
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11:51pm Wed 22 Aug 12
2. Agree with Tatecaster on business plan.
3. If Khan bid successful then why not invite Avenue to ground share as then finances would improve.
4. RFL could encourage these bids to join forces to improve chances of successful future.
5. Being a cinic, are RFL delaying progress so that players can be sold off at enhanced prices after successful season.
6. Thanks to Saints for comments, and to Rhinos, Wolves, Giants, Widnes and other helpful clubs who realize what SL will lose without Bulls. ( Will still chant "hate whinos"
7. With either us or Wakey for 7th or 8th none of the others will want 5th.
Lastly remember 2005 when we needed to win 13 games to be Champions, well its only 9 this time.
COYB
BCFC LAD
says...
8:09am Thu 23 Aug 12
portugalbull
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6:32pm Thu 23 Aug 12
arhmen aleg
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5:50pm Fri 24 Aug 12
Without doubt a new owner will have their work cut out.
1.losing £100000 monthly
2.!7 players (presumably on high wages)still in cintract come 30.11
3.A big hole of a ground the council could not wait to unload with a £5 million package to the Bulls 10 years ago.
4.The 5 million is spent and it was meant to be saved to cover maintenance requirements of Odsal until 2019
5.The Bulls were losing £600000 a year even when they were successfull.
6.The greek crisis is about to send our economy back even further.
Thanks to Bradford Council.
A £5 million gift all gone now in the pursuit of the dreams.
And that in a time of false bouyant economy.
Whoever takes it on needs very deep pockets and a ruthlessness where sentiment can play no part in cutting the disasterous wages bill.
Looking at how Omar built his conservatory to his Bradford Restaurant siome years ago it does not bode well for the future redevelopment of Odsal.
My view is only the RFL and Super League would have the clout to do anything with Odsal that would make real improvement.
Twenty odd million to make it respectable for sure.
Good luck to all involved.
arhmen aleg
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10:38pm Fri 24 Aug 12
raisemeup wrote:Theres about 383 die hards at Bradford Park avenue every week.
Reality50 wrote: Stop flogging a dead horse!!! A number of Bulls fans I know think Bulls after the next couple of games should liquidate and start afresh as a phoenix club.Bulls lost their right as an SL franchise club when this farce began and everyday this carries on the name of the club and the sport is dragged through the mud.Liquidate and do what Glasgow Rangers did and showed great dignity in starting again in the bottom division.You really don't know what you are talking about do you? Do you think a club that has spent the best part of 16 years in shaping the future of Super League, can do all that you suggest and start at the bottom to once again begin, the long process of getting back into the top flight once more. You haven't experienced it have you. And let me tell you, great dignity, as you put it , doesn't exist when you go to buy the groceries, to coin an analogy. I would rather we closed the doors than be the bottom of the pile once more...unlike you I remember 1963 and 382 fans watching our last game there's very little dignity in that either.
they are true supporters not those that jump aboard when things are rosy.
Bradford Partk Avenue have been to hell and back and I can tell you of a happy little club.
So worry not.
Big time charlies the Bulls have been.
with other peoples money and a big chunk of it the Braford Council tax payers.
In fact with 5 million of it ten years ago.
Thats half a million a season start that the council gave as a thank god and goodbye to the money pit of odsal.
bet CC thought he"d pulled off a master stroke then that allowed the bulls for some years to wrack up losses every year of £600000.
How that may come back to haunt.
they think its all over,it was for Bradford Park Avenue, but they have risen back from the dead.
Just be gratefull that there is something to save.
CC may have been as financially useless at managing the money as anyone uin this mess.
At least he created a fan base,an interest a brand.
And with a core of 10000 superleague clubs are not stupid.
Leeds got approaching 20000 there a couple of weeks ago to see the Bulls
The only stupid ones in all this have been the directors.over a long time now
Thee Voice of Reason says...
8:14am Wed 22 Aug 12
The time and effort it must take just to run one club must be emmense. Lets hope someone takes over the reigns to steer the Bulls to better times.