RFL goes Manc : Mon Mar 05, 2018 3:26 pm  

Slightly disappointed with the decision to go Lancashire from the RFL and being being utterly selfish with this have implications on us?

The 'we could locate at Odsal' scenario would have been a good one for us? Does this mean Odsal is now surplus to RFL requirements?

Now it looks like Chalmers has the foundations in place this kind of stuff makes me nervous and reach for the tin foil

[Bullseye]

Re: RFL goes Manc : Mon Mar 05, 2018 3:45 pm  

Article of the move to the Etihad here http://www.rugby-league.com/article/519 ... had-campus The theory of various planets aligning to lead to a fancy new stadium and RFL HQ at Odsal was an attractive one but alas I think unlikely when you look at what would be required to make it happen. As for Odsal as far as I know it’s never been made clear what the club is paying in rent to the RFL and what the upkeep is costing. It cost the previous regime £75k a year in rent IIRC. That’s the same as our entire central distribution money from the RFL this year. That makes you think doesn’t it? As far as upkeep is concerned things like testing the crush barriers and upkeep of the stand roof and floodlights costs money. It’s clear that the floodlights haven’t been maintained, I assume the rest has to be done for H&S reasons. Again I bet it costs a lot. We don’t use the turnstiles anymore – I wonder if this is a cost saving since they may need maintenance. Fact is while we’re playing at Odsal it will remain a millstone. I can’t see us getting into SL while it remains as it is.

Article of the move to the Etihad here http://www.rugby-league.com/article/519 ... had-campus The theory of various planets aligning to lead to a fancy new stadium and RFL HQ at Odsal was an attractive one but alas I think unlikely when you look at what would be required to make it happen. As for Odsal as far as I know it’s never been made clear what the club is paying in rent to the RFL and what the upkeep is costing. It cost the previous regime £75k a year in rent IIRC. That’s the same as our entire central distribution money from the RFL this year. That makes you think doesn’t it? As far as upkeep is concerned things like testing the crush barriers and upkeep of the stand roof and floodlights costs money. It’s clear that the floodlights haven’t been maintained, I assume the rest has to be done for H&S reasons. Again I bet it costs a lot. We don’t use the turnstiles anymore – I wonder if this is a cost saving since they may need maintenance. Fact is while we’re playing at Odsal it will remain a millstone. I can’t see us getting into SL while it remains as it is.

Re: RFL goes Manc : Mon Mar 05, 2018 5:19 pm  

On the plus side it puts to bed the whole RFL / Odsal conspiracy theories once and for all.

And when you take a look at the state of the art facilities at the Etihad you can see why they wouldn't want to come to a dump like Odsal, so - trying to be objective - you can't argue with the decision.

On the other side of things it does beg the question of what exactly is the point of the RFL owning Odsal now that it doesn't seem like they plan on moving the operation there?

Re: RFL goes Manc : Mon Mar 05, 2018 5:57 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

On the plus side it puts to bed the whole RFL / Odsal conspiracy theories once and for all.

And when you take a look at the state of the art facilities at the Etihad you can see why they wouldn't want to come to a dump like Odsal, so - trying to be objective - you can't argue with the decision.

On the other side of things it does beg the question of what exactly is the point of the RFL owning Odsal now that it doesn't seem like they plan on moving the operation there?

The facilities at the Ethiad are amazing. If they are going to be included in the next phase of the development, that is a great sign for the sport, even if not for ourselves.

Re: RFL goes Manc : Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:07 pm  

It's pretty depressing. "Yes we do lease the iconic Odsal, but it's not good enough for us. We need to preserve it from the vultures for the game ... but why? it will do for playing our level but this sounds very much like there is no future for Odsal as a RL stadium. Maybe we should get used to that

Re: RFL goes Manc : Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:53 pm  

No doubt the facilities will be good but it is money leaving the RL family and even to a city that doesn't have a team.

Re: RFL goes Manc : Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:54 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

It's pretty depressing. "Yes we do lease the iconic Odsal, but it's not good enough for us. We need to preserve it from the vultures for the game ... but why? it will do for playing our level but this sounds very much like there is no future for Odsal as a RL stadium. Maybe we should get used to that

My mind was cast back to you being told we, as club, were surplus to RFL reqs. So now they have their shiny new toys you can be fairly certain there's a off load of the stadium in the offing with CBMDC wanted to get rid too once the new sports centre is built.

With the SL chairmen magnanimously yanking up the draw bridge I get the feeling our time has really passed this time.

Re: RFL goes Manc : Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:58 pm  

If the RFL no longer have plans for Odsal, then it’s more likely we’ll get it back at cost. If only for the RFL to disentangle themselves from the conflict of interest and governance issues that creates

[Bullseye]

Re: RFL goes Manc : Tue Mar 06, 2018 1:22 pm  

I suspect any change in the status of Odsal won't come about for a few years yet. The RFL will want some water to pass under the bridge first. If we have some drama free years and show that we're capable of ticking along then it becomes more likely. At the moment it's too soon.

However I think it will happen at some stage. Whether the lease is sold to the club owner or is just handed back to the Council who knows.

As for a place at the top table. I think we'll be back but it might be as long as 10 years. I heard that more than one SL club had to appeal for financial help from the RFL last year and that precarious position won't be helped much by helping themselves to the paltry amount that shared between C1 clubs. It's not in their interest to let us wither and die.

Re: RFL goes Manc : Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:21 am  

Bullseye wrote:

...It's not in their interest to let us wither and die.

But how is that interest measured, and who is measuring?

because so far as the SL clubs are concerned, we've been dead for years and there's no imminent Lazarusesque return. I would be interested if someone could work out what the absence of a top-6 level Bulls has likely cost the SL clubs. (Hypothetically, as the net worth of the wounded and limping animal we were immediately before being put down is not the best yardstick)