Bulls faced with fresh sanction worry

The Bulls on Friday announced that they had completed a change of ownership from OK Bulls Ltd, the company established by former owner Omar Khan.

OK Bulls Ltd was this week placed into administration but a new company, Bradford Bulls 2014, has been immediately set up to take over the running of the club.

The latest development follows the collapse of a deal to transfer Khan’s shares to the three directors currently in charge.

David Wilson, of Leeds-based DFW Associates, who was appointed administrator of the club’s former holding company, confirmed he had completed the sale to the new company.

Wilson said: “Upon the sanction of the Rugby Football League, we will have concluded the sale of the club to Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd.

“It had not proved possible to resolve the ownership of the company with the previous owner and, as a result, the company’s financial position had become untenable.”

All players, employees and assets have been transferred to the new company, who will continue to function as Bradford Bulls under new directors Andrew Calvert, Mark Moore and Ian Watt, alongside chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul.

The club say they now intend to approach the RFL to discuss the future and seek to avoid a points deduction, as the board of directors have stated their intentions to continue to work with creditors.

A Bulls spokesperson said: “Although a resolution wasn’t found after all avenues were exhausted, we feel the new company will give the club’s supporters much-needed clarity in terms of who is running, directing and owning their club.”

An RFL spokesman confirmed they will meet the club’s new owners next week to discuss their plans and determine what sanctions, if any, the club will face.

At worst, the club could forfeit their membership of the RFL and Super League but another points deduction appears the likely outcome.