Odsal lease : Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:05 pm  

Story in express about SL clubs wanting to try and buy the lease apparently. Haven't read story so is anyone could post full story it would be appreciated. Tweets below from Aaron Bower.

There is a fascinating race developing to buy the lease of Odsal from the RFL. They are open to selling, and various parties want to buy. One is Wakefield chairman Michael Carter - who has told me he and other club owners would be interested in it as an investment opportunity.

Re: Odsal lease : Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:22 pm  

Just as it looked like we Might get Through a whole season with no off field drama.......

Re: Odsal lease : Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:37 pm  

The Odsal lease being dragged into the RFL/SL war? Great stuff.

Re: Odsal lease : Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:55 pm  

If an imminent sale of Odsal head lease were true (and that is a big 'IF), then the RFL may be looking to line up a sale to the likes of Chalmers. the man who became the custodian of the proud Bulls name when as was reported at the time other, better looking, high investment bids were on the table in early 2017.

Any sale for the Odsal Head Lease by the RFL may not be happening just yet, but if it did it has to be expected that it should in fact be done so on an open and transparent basis.

Any assignment of the head lease by the RFL to a third party (e.g.. a consortium involving Chalmers) would in any case HAVE to be approved by the Bradford Council Executive who are led by leader, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (who is trustworthy), and her Executive (6 Councillors, inc Hinchcliffe). The Council Executive, without the interference of others, would have to consider and vote on such a key matter at an Executive Meeting, and there is no such meeting until 12 September 2018 - fact.

Still the whole story may well at this stage just be (yet more) smoke and mirrors. Just recently Chalmers was apparently looking to relocate our club with Bradford Council's blessing. That was thought to be largely pie in the sky by certain Councillors, and that proved to be the case. All this talk of leases may be nonsense and AB may be just stirring things up, as of course is his right as a highly credible journalist.

Re: Odsal lease : Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:07 pm  

In addition, can I say that a fellow female, Kersten England, is the Chief Executive of Bradford Council.

Her role is however, limited. She has no voting rights re policy matters such as the future of Odsal. Fact.

Unlike the Councillors (who keep themselves at a distance), Kersten England may possibly be friendly with certain persons, but again as Chief Exec she herself has no voting rights. That, rightfully, is the job of the Labour led Council Executive. They have to have the utmost integrity. They will surely do what is right for Bradfordians, and us Bulls fans, as we hope would the current Bulls incumbents. It is good to see that Damian Irvine may have some influence.

Kersten Engand's role as the Council's (highly paid) Chief Executive is to implement instructions and policy matters. She does not have the authority to decide or vote on policy matters, such as a re-assignment of the head lease of Odsal from the RFL to another party, even if that were a likelihood. Kersten takes instructions from the Council's Executive, the 6 Labour Councillors led by Cllr Hinchcliffe. Not the other way round. Fact.

Re: Odsal lease : Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:45 am  

belcki wrote:

In addition, can I say that a fellow female, Kersten England, is the Chief Executive of Bradford Council.

Her role is however, somewhat limited. She has no voting rights re policy matters such as the future of Odsal. Fact.

Unlike the Councillors (who keep themselves at a distance), Kersten England may posibly be friendly with certain persons, but again as Chief Exec she herself has no voting rights. That, rightfully, is the job of the Labour led Council Executive. They have to have the utmost integrity. They will surely do what is right for Bradfordians, and us Bulls fans, as we hope would the current Bulls incumbents. It is good to see that Damian Irvine may have some influence.

Kersten Engand's role as the Council's (highly paid) Chief Executive is to implement instructions and policy matters. She does not have the authority to decide or vote on policy matters, such as a re-assignment of the head lease of Odsal from the RFL to another party, even if that were a likelihood. Kersten takes instructions from the Council's Executive, the 6 Labour Councillors led by Cllr Hinchcliffe. Not the other way round. Fact.

I see the phony wars have begun already.

As far as Damian Irvine is involved, I have nothing against him, but he is one of the names that was oft bandied about during our troubles - he didn't come through then and so there's no reason to do so now.

In fact, any fellow males from that time can do one.

[Bullseye]

Re: Odsal lease : Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:30 am  

Irvine has been assisting up at the club on the commercial side for some time now apparently.

Surely a club owner owning the lease of the ground of another club is a conflict of interest?

Re: Odsal lease : Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:41 am  

Bullseye wrote:

.

Surely a club owner owning the lease of the ground of another club is a conflict of interest?

Don't think anyone could argue otherwise. The only option is to sell it back to the Bulls, at the price they brought it for.We shouldn't get it at a cut price, and the other club chairman certainly shouldn't get it, as you say it's a conflict of interest. Hudgell in particular isn't exactly fond of us.

I don't buy the part that they see it as an investment, the lease isn't worth much if you don't have the Bulls playing there. The council own the part the money is in, which is the land. What would happen if Hudgell & Carter own it and the Bulls won promotion replacing Hull KR or Wakey (which isn't exactly an impossibility) Do they whack the price up forcing us out of our home to weaken us?

If the RFL want rid of it, tough, they shouldn't have brought it in the first place (it was a disgrace they did) They're not losing money on it as we pay for all the maintenance etc.

Re: Odsal lease : Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:47 am  

Bullseye wrote:

Irvine has been assisting up at the club on the commercial side for some time now apparently.

Surely a club owner owning the lease of the ground of another club is a conflict of interest?

Well, you cant be an "influential person" at two clubs. (RFL operational rules C3.1.2 and associated declaration) and I'd argue having control of the lease you would be able to "exercise direct or indirect control over the affair of the club" So another club owner/chairman/CEO shouldn't be allowed to have the lease in my view.

It would be typical rugby league though, we're already in a situation where there is a conflict of interest with the governing body owning the lease, what's pretty much the only scenario that's a worse conflict of interest? another club (that will in the medium to long term, hopefully, be a direct rival) owning it....so yeah, I fully expect this to happen.

At least you'll get some interesting threads and comments to mod

Re: Odsal lease : Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:15 am  

Interesting that the money they want to withhold would cover the bill nicely