Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:56 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

You'd have to believe that they've been working on a Plan B for a while, because there's no way to pull everything together from scratch between now and February.

Hopefully, the RFL have 'signalled' to the players and their agents that, if they hold tight, they can be TUPE'd over to a new company in the next day or two. OK, a few will doubtless 'do a Kopczak', but hopefully the bulk of the squad will remain (if only because nobody else has any space on their cap to sign them!)

If they thought there was no chance they would have said that cap limits would not include, say 2, players who are now without a job, which they haven't done.

BTW TUPE does not apply, the players contracts are null and void, so they would have to accept a new one, so they may have to accept a reduced salary. The RFL statement does talk about the 'debilitating' financial commitments planned for 2017!

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:56 pm  

Interesting from the RFL

The Administrator of Bradford Bulls (Northern) Limited has confirmed that the club has ceased trading. While this is terribly disappointing and sad, it is not an entirely surprising development given the scale of debt incurred by the previous management of the club and the debilitating level of financial commitment already entered into for 2017.

I fully agree with the bit about the debt, but 'debilitating level of financial commitment entered into for 2017'

Does that hint at the unsustainabilty of a full-time squad, and a move to part-time? What other 'debilitating commitment' was there?

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:58 pm  

Mirfieldbull wrote:

BTW TUPE does not apply, the players contracts are null and void, so they would have to accept a new one, so they may have to accept a reduced salary. The RFL statement does talk about the 'debilitating' financial commitments planned for 2017!

Thanks for the clarification - I noted the 'debilitating' bit in my follow up post. Interesting phrasing from the RFL

[Nat (Rugby_Aholic)]

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:59 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

Interesting from the RFL

I fully agree with the bit about the debt, but 'debilitating level of financial commitment entered into for 2017'

Does that hint at the unsustainabilty of a full-time squad, and a move to part-time? What other 'debilitating commitment' was there?

If the rumours circulating last year are to be believed then you brought forward a lot of your Provident sponsorship money in a desperate attempt to get into the Middle eights last year. So your income would have been nothing but ticket sales and central funding, so even a part time team is difficult on those terms.

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:00 pm  

Nat (Rugby_Aholic) wrote:

What a load of nonsense. Why do the RFL insist on making up rules as they go along. If a new club forms it should be made to start in Championship 1 and earn its right to play in Championship. It devalues the Championship!

What happens if you sign all the same players and relagate some other team that has honoured its debts at the cost of putting out a competitive team?

I don't see anyone arguing with you. The chances of any new Bulls side relegating anyone are unlikely. You are forgetting that as it stands any new team has no players, not one and no coach etc. With a 12pt deduction, I'm not sure how you see them competing for anything other than not finishing a distant last.

Building from the bottom is best all round but upsets the RFLs plans.

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:00 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Well Mick reckons the RFL have invited bids to them by the end of this week!

So we're screwed then

Debaser I ended it on a nice round number....

At the players meeting which went on for over 2 hours that's exactly what was said. The RFL have invited bids to be in by friday with the successful bid announced next week. The main concern at the minute is that the administrators have turned round this morning and said that there is no money to pay wages. I've never been so low either playing for or supporting this club.

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:01 pm  

Happy New F^$££in Year Mr Green

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:03 pm  

zapperbull wrote:

Happy New F^$££in Year Mr Green

Yep. Good work. Businessman of the year.

Hope you are pleased with the outcome Marc.

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:04 pm  

So the RFL suggest that a new club be formed from scratch with 4 weeks to the start of the season and placed in the championship with a 12 point deduction. I thought the application of a penalty of well in excess of £1m against a club which had gone bust was mad but this takes the biscuit.

Re: Phoenix from the flames? : Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:05 pm  

I believe this has been the plan all along. The RFL statement has come out very quickly.

Green gets nothing, Admin gets very little.

New buyer gets a ready made 2017 team in the Championship and has to top up central funding to pay the squad but the RFL have already agreed a subsides rent in the interest of both parties.