NO matter what your position is on Odsal and our 'Bexit' scenario, the club is determined to usher in a new era of economic sustainability for fans and stakeholders alike.

When I think of the operations of our rugby league club, I see funds being spent developing player resources, academy and education programmes and our champion women’s team - not seeing these funds being diverted to meet the operating costs of a legacy asset.

Of course ultimately you look to build strength and quality in your programmes to challenge for the right to play in Super League. It’s impossible to do this consistently if you’re having to fund uneconomic infrastructure, which is the case we face if we stay at Odsal under the present terms imposed by the RFL and the Bradford Council.

My message to both is clear and simple. September 1 will represent our last game at Odsal, unless we can agree on economically sustainable terms to stay at Odsal. Our 'No Deal Bexit' scenario.

The good news is that the Bradford Council and the RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer have met this week to discuss the position.

All the parties understand the importance of the situation, and I have to stress that the club hasn’t reached this point without a great deal of consideration.

Bradford is rugby league central for the sport. A thriving Bradford Bulls is an important part of a fractured jigsaw which makes up rugby league in the UK.

The long term sustainability of rugby league at all levels of the game must keep its decision makers awake at night, or at least you’d hope so.

Of course for the city, the Bradford Bulls is a global iconic brand, an important part of Bradfordian culture and history, a huge community asset which helps promote well-being and optimism, in what for many is an economically tough environment.

Sporting teams not only promote well-being and optimism within a community, but their success on the field boosts civic pride and enthusiasm, and become focal points for community involvement.

The Bulls reach extends to charitable, community and schools programs. The Bradford Bulls Foundation is active in this space thanks to the efforts of chairman Warren Evans and his team.

Of course the Bulls have developed a presence and following over decades which extends beyond the city’s boundaries. It’s what is unique about the Bulls and what differentiates them from many other sporting teams.

Teams want to play the Bulls, fans want to see the Bulls play, and not just in Bradford.

I would much prefer that our management team was focused purely on the success of the club on the field, for our first team, the reserves, the Academy teams, and the women’s and PDRL teams.

But instead we are focused on resolving how best to deal with an ageing legacy issue in Odsal. Many will see this as a negative, but I look at it very differently. This is our opportunity to engage honestly and frankly with the Bradford Council and the RFL about this issue. An opportunity to say it how it is, so that no-one is confused about what the issues are.

In many ways it’s probably easier for me to pose the tough questions. I’m not from Bradford, I’m from Auckland, New Zealand, and my opinion isn’t tainted with a decade of false hope and promises.

That doesn’t mean an easy solution lies around the corner, but for the Bradford Council as land owner and the RFL as lease holder, they are now carefully considering what to do next. A 'No Deal Bexit' approach has achieved that.

What is absolutely encouraging is the response from Bradfordians and sporting fans alike. I know that social media is alight with views and opinions on all elements of the questions at hand, and that the media has grabbed this crucial issue and presented the many angles to readers everywhere.

It’s important that as stakeholders, you express your views and opinions. Many express those views strongly and thoughtfully, some can’t resist to troll and promote the doom and gloom, but I think most rational intelligent fans will comprehend the fundamental issues.

Of course some lazy journalists and pundits will peddle fake news and rumours as they attempt to sensationalise outright rubbish, generally to gain ratings, but hey this is the world we live in. We just have to roll with it. Just beware of the raging Bull!

In the other half of Andrew Chalmers' column, he discusses the three alternative venues to Odsal which have been under consideration. Read here