All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:58 am  

Is transparency, honesty and full ongoing disclosure from the Bradford Bulls directors!

I can handle players being sold (been there, Ellery Hanley anyone?), I can handle financial black holes (1976 anyone?), I can handle get soaked to the bone in an antiquated hole in the ground.

I am a proud Bradfordian with red, amber, and black (yes that order, always that order) blood coursing through my veins. I sat in the stand on white painted benches with splinters from the age of three, four generations of Bradford fans including my great grandad who'd seen the birth of our great club in its current guise, and sadly I gave robbin Hood several hundred pounds of my children's inheritance to 'save' us two years ago.

So I have always turned up, I love the badge, I will always cheer those players whoever they maybe wearing it.

What I can no longer tolerate is lies from the people that are the current custodians, and I want to know why we are back in the mire. Full disclosure of what the last lot did, what loans are owing, liabilities to individuals, and exactly what investment the current directors have made and what the plan is to return us to financial viability.

We're still not getting that I'm afraid folks and it's the inability for anyone at the Bulls to share that detail that still has me very worried.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:07 am  

Just as an aside, my brother went to a Christmas do last night locally, and the evil Hood was there. I don't think he spoke to him but he did speak to someone who was chatting about all the companies Khan and Whitcut have had dissolved recently.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:17 am  

For people to invest/sponsor they have to believe that the current administration are running the club for the right reasons. Of course people and companies want a return financially. I completely understand Franks frustration and I am sure a good deal of supporters are thinking the same.

The constant turbulence is unsettling. Leadership and making decisions cuts it, being open and transparent with a clear action plan that everyone (including supporters) can work towards.

I also believe companies will invest, supporters will turn up if they can see that being delivered. It is a team sport and it is going to be a team effort that will turn this around.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:18 am  

Frank Whitcombe wrote:

Is transparency, honesty and full ongoing disclosure from the Bradford Bulls directors!

I can handle players being sold (been there, Ellery Hanley anyone?), I can handle financial black holes (1976 anyone?), I can handle get soaked to the bone in an antiquated hole in the ground.

I am a proud Bradfordian with red, amber, and black (yes that order, always that order) blood coursing through my veins. I sat in the stand on white painted benches with splinters from the age of three, four generations of Bradford fans including my great grandad who'd seen the birth of our great club in its current guise, and sadly I gave robbin Hood several hundred pounds of my children's inheritance to 'save' us two years ago.

So I have always turned up, I love the badge, I will always cheer those players whoever they maybe wearing it.

What I can no longer tolerate is lies from the people that are the current custodians, and I want to know why we are back in the mire. Full disclosure of what the last lot did, what loans are owing, liabilities to individuals, and exactly what investment the current directors have made and what the plan is to return us to financial viability.

We're still not getting that I'm afraid folks and it's the inability for anyone at the Bulls to share that detail that still has me very worried.

We are back in the mire because the club has been run into administration and stripped of its assets. The last BOD came with the best of intentions but having started with nothing minus 50% Sky money and whilst appearing to bring in significant sponsorship, clearly ran out of money, or the will to guarantee further inevitable losses. IF they have lied and I don't quite see it, then I can see no possible way they have benefited and have more than likely had their finger badly burned.

The new BOD are trying manage the narrative (wisely in my view) in order to stem losses, increase revenue, avoid administration, maintain our SL status and thereby receive full Sky money next year. In order to do this they need to keep sponsors, suppliers and creditors from catching a cold. You might think full disclosure is a good idea but in the era of internet trolling and a significant body of people who want to see the club destroyed, it really isn't.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:24 am  

And, on all of that, we have violent agreement.

[Bulliac]

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:27 am  

Difficult one to call, to be honest, since usually you only find out about any terminological inexactitudes afterwards, often well after the event.

To be straight forward, I've never run a company. Though I can certainly see where running one, in a competitive environment, might well lead even the most naturally honest person into being 'selective' in what he might tell others. Even to the extent of putting out misleading information which may not be either exactly true or untrue. Giving out information, about a poor trading position for instance, is just asking the vultures to swoop, ditto, in a sporting club, telling all and sundry your recruitment plans.

Just like being a manger, [I have done that] it isn't always possible to be totally upfront about what is going on. Your job is to get the best from those under you and that doesn't always mean being totally honest - 'white lies' and encouragement are often more efficacious than the brutal 'truth'.

For what it's worth, my gut feeling is that, the current board have been as 'honest' as they can be, and whilst Omar and Gerry were, as was often said, the 'only game in town' when they took over, they may not have been the best at running the business - but what do I know? Which turns the circle and leads us back to back to the first sentence, we'll no doubt know more in a year or two.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:51 am  

What M@islebugs said.

Don't understand why anyone would want, or more to the point expect, such abject confessional-level total disclosure. It would do no good whatsoever and it's just naive to think you might get it.

Naive because no business ever would do this, which you must know, but mostly naive for the implication is that if it came, anyone think that this disclosure would be the full and undisputed fact. On the planet where I live, it would always be the case that any such "disclosures" would immediately be roundly rubbished and contested by the previous incumbents and you wouldn't be in any position to say who was right and wrong about what, so in fact you'd be little or no nearer the ultimate "truth" you seek.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:03 pm  

Bulliac wrote:

...
Just like being a manger, [I have done that]...

*giggles* Tis the Nativity season.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:11 pm  

Social media and message boards like this are of course fertile breading grounds for rumour and speculation - be honest that is why most people look. So the times when companies - especially ones needing customer (fan) support have to be more open if only to stop damage from the more scurrilous postings.

To be honest I find it more worrying that our last two ownership/management teams found it impossible to be open and honest even amongst themselves let alone other interested parties! I think by and large successful organisations tend to be more open - because they can afford to be.

Re: All I want for Christmas.... : Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:20 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

And, on all of that, we have violent agreement.

what's that?

To discuss the issue of narrative (I am new on here and I am not wanting to make enemies ) the current narrative is "we are broke" again.

I have been in Business and I have learnt a lot of lessons through it. One of them is about empowering people to help. The issue of management is to get people to want to do what you want them to do. Set realistic goals and invite productivity... Action works!!