: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:31 am
Fans Forum break down.
Question 1
OSV
In the present climate are you confident that funding will be found as there appears to be a short fall
Answer
Peter Hood
A great deal of funding as is known is already in place. He was as confident as he could be at this stage.
Question 2
Are the Bulls making a contribution to the scheme and is this affecting our ability to sign top class players.
Answer
Peter Hood
The clubs contribution to the scheme is the land its self without the land the scheme is unviable. The OSV scheme is 10x times the size of the Odsal bowl and the bowl is central to it.
Question 3
Ground Sharing
Answer
Peter Hood
There are no plans too share with Bradford City if the plans fall through. If the scheme does fall through Bradford Bulls will stay at Odsal alternate solutions will be found.
Question 4
Why has the new ground only got an 18,000 capacity
Answer
Peter Hood
If you build a bigger stadium you have higher cost building and operating. The Bulls have conditions for getting an average crowd of 15,000 maybe higher so a 18,000 venue creates the scarcity value. the challenge of Odsal at the moment is that every knows that you can get in when you want you don't have to worry about a ticket. There is still a debate about all seat er stadium there may be some standing.
Ryan Duckett
The drawings of the plan will probably change over the next six months the capacity may possibly go up.
Question 5
With all super clubs signing new players and re-signing current players their seem s to be a worrying lack of news from the Bulls is their anything new to report.
Answer
Steve McNamara
The club had signed Glen Hall last week and Andy Lynch has signed a new 3 year deal.
Question 6
Is it the clubs intention to hold on to good players and thee for revert back to the old system of stability and firmarily amongst the players which in turn will shorly see our club return to former glories.
Answer
Steve McNamara
We are looking to retain our best players bring in the best available juniors in to the club and also bring in some top class talent.
Question 7
With all the focus now on the academy is it the clubs intention to keep hold off all the best player and not let them leave and join our rivals.
Answer
Steve McNamara
Yes it is the clubs intention to keep old of the best players. The club don't want a boom and bust cycle where it just invests at the top level and is successful for a year or two then fall flat on its face with no money. There was always be a few players who they make a call on who move on a reinvent themselves.
Question 8
What is the clubs view on Dave Cravens article after the Celtic game on twenty first of May.
Answer
Peter Hood
It didn't make pleasant reading.
Question 9
How do fans go about getting tickets to use the Coral stand bar after games many would welcome the chance to meet there heroes.
Answer
Ryan Duckett
The coral stand is mainly for sponsor but you can buy tickets for the restaurant at forty pound each but you can get match by match tickets which cost thirty ponds.
Question 10
What would the club consider a successful season and what steps would be taken if this wasn't meet.
Answer
Peter Hood
A decent run in the play offs is what everyone at the clubs is shooting for.
Question 11
What position does the panel see the club see in 12 months time.
Answer
Peter Hood and Steve McNamara
On the stadium to be out the other side of the planning process and to have moved out of the ground as the work has started and see the club stronger on and off the field.
Question 12
Franchise when are the bids likely to have to be submitted.
Answer
Peter Hood
The category C licenses my have to start making there application by 2010. It also needs to be found out if the clubs will have to submitted as much information as last time or will they just focus on those with a C license and ask the current A and B license holders to put in a shortened document specific to certain aspects.
Question 13
If the club was submitting a next round of franchise bidding today taking in to account what the club already knows or guesses of how the process proceeds how confident is the club be that it would be awarded a franchise what steps could be taken to further improve our chances of a successful application.
Answer
Peter Hood
The club is very confident off a franchise being awarded. Next time it wont be sufficient to just have plans for a new stadium clubs will need bulldozers on site. If the club applied for the license today it would expect to get the same grade if the builders were on site they would be shooting for A grade license.
Question 14
What impact has the drop off in home support having on the clubs finances and if it continues what are the probable implications going forward.
Answer
Peter Hood
The drop off has a distinct and marked and immediate effect on the finances. You've collected less money at the turnstiles at the car parks at the bar and every where in the ground. It has an immediate negative impact on the following Monday.
The club budget conservatively so a drop off itself is not a massive problem unless it were to continue for ever. In which case you would end up re-budgeting it effects things like cash flow.
Question 15
Are the season ticket prices going to rise next year if yes by how much.
Answer
Ryan Duckett
The club aren't sure too early to say but they are looking too add value.
Question 16
The crowds at Odsal have been decreasing steadily over the season especially away is low do you think special promotions should be put on to entice people back.
Answer
Ryan Duckett
During the season the club has done special promotions, A kid for a quid and Buy one get one free. The club is very cautious of not devaluing the season ticket package with promotions.
The club was on budget for the Catalans and Celtic games above budget for the Hull KR, Huddersfield and Hull FC games but under budget for the Warrington game.
Question 17
For the avoidance of doubt is the club spending as it much as it prudently dares and there fore limiting scope to splash out or is the club in a position to take advantage of any advantages spending opportunities.
Answer
Peter Hood
Yes we are absolutely in the market in the situation arises.
Question 18
Is the club spending the salary cap and if not what sort of head room do we still have and how able are we to raise the spending to the maximum if needed.
Answer
Peter Hood
The club are under the cap we do have some headroom available.
Question 19
Too what extent is the lack wealthy backer seen as a signifacant disadvantage to the club what steps can and could be taken to mitigate this.
Answer
Peter Hood
It is an advantage if your wealthy backer stops in place. No such individual or consortium has ever come forward.
Question 20
There are one or two individuals with possible misguided or questionable loyalty who post an incessant stream of negativity and abuse especially sack the coach sack the board on Internet message boards. Is this at worse seen as an irritation or does it have real potential to damage the club if the latter what can be done to mitigate it.
Answer
Peter Hood
There isn't a potential to cause any real damage. But any message that are libelous would be pursued legally.
Steve McNamara
Some time the club could be a little more open with the fans. Sometime the message are a little bit irritable.
Question 21
What effect has the Iestyn Harris debacle had on the clubs finances in the long term.
Answer
Peter Hood
Nothing in the long term.
Question 22
Is it true Kooga are pulling out of the shirt sponsorship deal.
Answer
Ryan Duckett
Not as far as the club no. New shirts have already being designed for 2010.
After this the Dictaphone got very tinny struggled to make out the question especially from the floor.
