The Rugby Football League has confirmed four bids have been lodged to create a rugby league team in Bradford following the liquidation of the former Super League champions Bradford Bulls last Tuesday.
The Bulls went out of business when the club’s administrators failed to find a new bidder, after the last remaining party pulled out of discussions. The RFL fielded 12 expressions of interest regarding the possibility of setting up a professional club, and they will now assess the four bids which were submitted before Monday’s midday deadline before making a decision “as soon as possible”, they said in a statement.
“The RFL can confirm that it will assess four official bids to create a new professional Rugby League Club in Bradford,” its statement said. “The RFL set out a clear process last week and subsequently received 12 requests for further information regarding the possibility of setting up a new professional club in the city.
“The four bids that have been submitted will remain confidential and will now be thoroughly assessed by the RFL Executive which aims to make a recommendation to the RFL Board as soon as possible.”
The Guardian revealed last week that the former Wasps CEO and owner David Thorne was interested in reforming the Bulls and it is understood he has lodged a bid with the RFL.
Another bid has been lodged by the Rotherham Titans chief executive, Richard Lamb, whose plans revolve around forming a “community sports club” which will be majority-owned by the club’s fans. Lamb’s bid consists of a fans’ trust owning 52% of any club put together to take the 12th and final place in the Championship this coming season. Any new club will start with a 12-point deduction, the RFL confirmed last week.
Lamb’s plan also involves the potential appointment of Damian Irvine, the former Cronulla Sharks chairman, as chief executive. The fans’ trust would aim to give supporters the chance to be involved with the direction of the new club in Bradford.
The Bulls are due to play their first pre‑season fixture on Sunday against Batley, and the RFL will decide this week whether to sanction the game after the club’s remaining players signalled a desire to play. Seven of Bradford’s squad who were contracted for the 2017 season have left the club following liquidation but, with the coach Rohan Smith in charge, the players still without a club are planning to play against the Bulldogs.
Batley, it is understood, will contribute a portion of the gate receipts to the players and staff involved for Bradford if the fixture goes ahead.
