Administrators have today put the Bradford Bulls into liquidation.

The contracts of players and staff have been terminated and the rugby league club has ceased trading. 

Talks had been taking place over the weekend to try to save the club, which has been in administration since November 14.

A bid, which had the support of the Rugby Football League, was rejected last week by joint administrator Gary Pettit, and a new bid was then submitted by another interested party which finally pulled out last night.

Players and support staff were told of the decision to put the Bulls into liquidation at a meeting at Odsal Stadium today.

Leon Pryce took to Twitter to say: "Sorry for players staff fans - everyone involved @BradfordBullsRL we have been liquidated.

"For the first time in my life I'm lost for words."

In statement this afternoon, the Rugby Football League said it was 'terribly disappointing and sad" that the Bulls had gone into liquidation.

It added: "It is not an entirely surprising development given the scale of debt incurred by the previous management of the club and the debilitating level of financial commitment already entered into for 2017.

"The RFL is aware of significant interest shown in the club by a number of potential bidders and one bid for the company emerged shortly before Christmas.

"This was rejected by the administrator and subsequently the further late interest shown to the sdministrator by another party was withdrawn yesterday evening.

"Accordingly the RFL, through Rugby League Cares, intends to offer support to all staff and players who have had their employment terminated by the company ceasing to trade.

"The RFL is contacting all staff to advise them of the support it will provide."

The independent RFL Board has met to determine how the future of professional Rugby League in Bradford can move forward in 2017, the RFL said.

"While a number of alternatives were considered the Board was most mindful of the planning already undertaken by all other clubs in the competition structure, the season tickets already purchased and the players and staff who will now be seeking employment in and around the sport in 2017.

"Accordingly the Board has agreed that the wider interests of the sport is best satisfied if it offers a place in the Kingstone Press Championship to any new club in Bradford and that such a club start the 2017 season on minus 12 points.

"Any interested parties should contact the RFL directly.

"The RFL believes that Rugby League needs Bradford and that Bradford deserves a strong and stable professional club and will work with all interested parties to deliver that outcome."  

Administrators spell out why Bradford Bulls have gone into liquidation 

Brian Noble, who played for Bradford Northern and also coached the Bulls during their most successful period in the early 2000s, winning three Super League titles, three World Club Challenges, two League Leaders’ Shields and one Challenge Cup, said he was shocked by today's events.

He said: “I cannot think of any other words.

“I hope someone can pull something out of the ashes and reboot the club how it should be run.

“The fans have shown great strength and resolve.

“I hope someone can get Bradford the club it needs and deserves.”

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins demanded urgent and radical action from the RFL and even suggested it steps in to run the Bulls while a new owner is found.

And she has demanded an investigation into how the situation at Odsal became so bad that it was ultimately beyond repair.

Mrs Cummins said: “This is the worst possible start to the new year for the Bradford Bulls family and my heart goes out to all the players, staff and their families who will be affected by this news.

“Protecting the club’s employees was the first priority for me and I will be looking to the RFL to do all it can to help them.

“At the same time, the history and legacy of the Bradford Bulls must not be lost and rugby league must have a future at Odsal. This is something I have already raised with the RFL in case a deal could not be done.

“I will be talking urgently with the RFL about what it can do now both for the players and staff and what can be one to make sure there is a future for the Bradford Bulls, including the option that they step in and run the Bulls until an owner is found.”

Mrs Cummins has had regular discussions with the RFL, the administrators and Bradford Council since the club was put into administration.

She added: “We must know what has happened and why the situation at Odsal got so bad under the previous owners that a deal to save the club could not be done.

“The liquidator will have a very big role in getting to the bottom of that but there is a problem beyond the financial side of this situation with ownership in sport that needs to be investigated fully.”

Paul Butterworth, chairman of Bradford Bulls Supporters Trust, said: “I think everyone associated with the Bulls is gutted, especially for the players, the staff and their families.

“I hope we will still have a club, it’s so important to Bradford and I hope positive things will be put into place to keep the dedicated staff and players at Bradford.

“We cannot afford to lose our fantastic academy, it has been a huge benefit to Bradford and rugby league as a whole over the years.

“I hope whatever is done is done quickly, the players have been through hell the past couple of months and have shown great passion and commitment.”

“The RFL needs to do something for rugby league in Bradford as it not only benefits us but rugby league across the country and the world.”

A spokesman for Provident Financial, which has been sponsoring the shirts said: "Provident is very sad to hear of the current situation and we are very disappointed for the players, staff and fans of what is a fantastic club.

"Provident awaits further developments from the Rugby Football League, therefore, we are unable to comment any further."