Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:47 pm  

If he wants fans input then he could start with telling us what needs doing to the facility to bring it to a standard that doesn't cost £500k P.A to maintain.

What repairs need doing? Why does it cost £500k to maintain? It's obviously in need of more than a lick of paint.

If we cough up for the leasehold can he pay for some of the repairs that are needed?

Give us a starting point, at least let us know what we can do to help.

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:56 pm  

Just watched rl backchat featherstone have fans pay £10 A month to help raise funds to help buy players and hope to have 200 fans join maybe we could do something like that to help with upkeep of stadium but god knows how many of us it would take to help

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:17 pm  

I really do hope that the sentimental tosh being spouted by AC is just that - heartfelt words which sum up the Bulls' present situation. However, I do feel that there's more than a little "forewarned is forearmed" to his words.
This doesn't sound like the defiant, almost petulant, hard nosed owner fighting for the survival of his business. It comes across as a plea for a few quid from well intentioned fans who are emotionally attached to both the club, and the ground where they have played for so many years.
Let's get real about the situation. We've left the hole in the ground, and nobody with an ounce of business sense is going to return to operate a sports team in the present situation. Can any of us honestly think that the following criteria can be delivered:
A) ongoing financial backing from a deep pocketed sports investor
B) a massive amount of goodwill from the local authority
C) a stadium improvement and upgrade programme the likes of which would rarely have been seen
C) a diary of supporting events which offer extra income above the maximum amount of home games playable in a RL season
D) a business plan to which the RL has no input, but to which they can only agree
E) a continuous expansion of the game to ensure the future for both the club and supporters
If the answer to any of the above is "NO" or even "DOUBTFUL", then it becomes disingenuous for AC to even hint about an event which is clearly not going to happen. Most of us are totally gutted that Odsal is now consigned to mothballs. But such things happen in life, so let's accept this and move on.

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:59 pm  

Ive never been one to bag the chairman and will always be greatfull for the fact he saved us and the work hes done up to now but ive just about seen my a**e with AC now.
Not because of the decision to leave but his complete lack of leadership since making that call.
Arguably one of the biggest decisions in the clubs history and rather than lead from the front, front up to the meadia or apease all our fans concerns, he cowers off straight back to NZ.
Then when he does get back he hides in the shadows of the top tier of coral stand and now we get this sob story statement this week that also highlights hes got feck all idea of how we get back. Also no mention of the special measures bull s**t, why we are in it and how he intends to get out of it.
Real leaders front up when the chips are down, not bury their heads in the sand orrun away.

Ive not missed a single game for over 6 years, but ll be honest, ive lost all faith now. AC is not the man to take us forward. Im consiged to the fact its Dewsbury untill we die or are saved by a multi millionaire. I hope beyond all hope im wrong.

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:04 pm  

What Chalmers is saying to the RFL is that in the current circumstances it is not financially viable to have a club in Bradford. OK put a million in, Green put a million in, he has put a million in. The RFL should have learnt from that. Odsal is a money sucking poop hole for a championship club, all credit to him for telling the RFL that. Forecasting income is the most difficult part of forecasting, and with the right will costs are so much easier to control. Chalmers has challenged the RFL to accept these facts, and yet they respond by sticking their heads in the ground. How many groundhog day repetitions before the RFL wise up? You can only make decisions about the future, because the past is gone. Chalmers quite sensibly is saying, the past is no help to me getting this club to where I want to get it, but if you fans hold the past in such veneration and want Odsal as your home venue, then put your money where your mouth is. in other words, grow a pair of £ millions cos im not throwing any more money down the black hole. Chalmers is the best thing to happen to this club in 10 years, the RFL buying the lease the worst thing.

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:13 am  

He's strung you along like kippers. Play on your emotions to get a big final home crowd (to ensure off season costs can be paid?) and then say, oh actually it might not be the end - just like final tours by bands. Remember the doubts some had when he first took over considering the reports of his time at the NZRL and involvement with Kiwi Forestry?

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:13 am  

Mr Dog wrote:

He's strung you along like kippers. Play on your emotions to get a big final home crowd (to ensure off season costs can be paid?) and then say, oh actually it might not be the end - just like final tours by bands. Remember the doubts some had when he first took over considering the reports of his time at the NZRL and involvement with Kiwi Forestry?

Three seasons without appearing in the Gazette. I am prepared to cut him some slack. If this is the first sign he's about to bugger off then who can blame him? Gets hand picked to do the RFL's bidding then when he does cut costs, moves and says there is a plan to come back half the 'loyal' fan base start screaming about sacking off the club and the RFL hamstrings him?

12k miles away from home I think I'd be tempted to say 'Phuq the lot of you'.

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:02 am  

Mr Dog wrote:

He's strung you along like kippers. Play on your emotions to get a big final home crowd (to ensure off season costs can be paid?) and then say, oh actually it might not be the end - just like final tours by bands. Remember the doubts some had when he first took over considering the reports of his time at the NZRL and involvement with Kiwi Forestry?

This is a bit harsh. Yes they pushed the 'last game at Odsal' angle pretty hard, and managed to get a crowd of 7,500 there for a regular league game. I'm sure there were many lapsed supporters there and I'm sure everyone who went enjoyed the game, because we won and we won well.
So to say we were strung along like kippers isn't quite right.

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:25 pm  

Chalmers has never been one for speaking directly to the fans. In fact he seems far more keen to act rather than speak.

3 years and no financial issues bar a small issue with some CCJs that all seemed to be mountains made of molehills simply because it's Bradford (and tbh, if I was a supplier for this club, given it's recent financial history a missed payment would make me head straight down the CCJ route too).
A good coach and a decent team including a strong academy.
A bold strategy of telling the RFL no we're not staying at Odsal because the costs are crippling the club.

TBH, I don't see that Chalmers hasn't done everything he can to ensure that the Bulls not only survive but that they are in a position to improve and grow. But that's just the opinion of someone who can only see what's actually been done and doesn't have some "inside info" and if he was to leave just because of some ungrateful fans with a chip on their shoulder it would be a loss to the club

Re: Chalmers.A route back to Odsal. : Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:28 pm  

I would like him to say what he was originally promised when approached to take over.