Bradford Bulls post stable finance numbers but Wood unhappy

The accounts show that the club made a small profit of £22,000 on a turnover of £2,131,000.

And while that, on the face of it, paints a relatively positive picture, chairman Nigel Wood OBE has hit out at the RFL, arguing that they are not doing enough to help clubs financially, with the income for clubs decreasing but expenditure rising.

The T&A contacted the sport’s governing body to give them a right of reply, but the RFL said on Tuesday evening that they were unlikely to provide a statement in response.

They did however confirm to us that Wood would be in attendance at a Rugby League Council meeting today, where they admitted they were expecting to listen to him expanding on his frustrations further.

Commenting on the 2023 outturn, Wood said: “The club’s board do try to run the club sustainably, because frankly, we have no real alternative other than so to do.

“If this is achieved, it is only thanks to the herculean efforts of numerous supporters and volunteers who are willing to give their time and in some cases their money to support professional rugby league.

“It does however get harder and harder each season with cost increases, salaries, inflation and now Covid loan repayments to deal with.

“Sometime ago the RFL referred to the reduction in the sport’s centrally generated income, euphemistically, as a “correction” in TV values.

“Well, unfortunately, there does not seem to have been a reciprocal “correction” in the cost base of professional rugby league, in fact quite the reverse.

“Recent events around the sport suggest that some positive action in the area of cost management may, perhaps, be overdue.” 

Bradford Bulls CEO Jason Hirst added: “We are a unique proposition outside of the current Super League.

Jason Hirst (left) and Nigel Wood (right) have both had their say on the latest financial figures posted by Bulls. (Image: UGC.)

“Across the main club and our excellent Foundation, we regularly field nine teams, with Women’s, Wheelchair, Physical Disability, Learning Disability, Men’s and various junior sides.

“No other, part-time, non-Super League club attempts to get so much rugby league played across all of these genres.

“Indeed, numerous Super League clubs run far less predominantly self-financed teams than we do.

“Being outside Super League currently, we do so, with very little central distribution, so inevitably have to rely upon the efforts and generosity on our many volunteers, sponsors, supporters and benefactors, as well as our owners.

“Also, the club’s essential decision to reacquire the lease of Odsal, to protect our home ground, will undoubtedly add significant further cost to the club next year.

“That means we will have to work even harder to balance the budget, whilst fielding a high quality, competitive and successful first team.

“As always, the club would welcome sponsorship and donations from interested parties, further commercial partners and benefactors, who would like to help us continue to build upon the progress of the past few years and help with the final push of getting the club back into the Super League imminently. 

“If anyone is interested, I kindly ask that they contact me directly.”