THE owners of Bradford’s new rugby league club are due to be officially revealed today in a press conference at Odsal.

It is widely believed the new owner is a consortium led by former New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers and former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe.

The new owners arrived at the club’s Odsal home yesterday, and are believed to have held a meeting with the players who were formerly contracted to the Bradford Bulls before the club went into liquidation.

The announcement will end two months of turmoil for all associated with the club, after it entered administration on November 14.

Last Friday, a new company called Bradford Bulls 2017 Limited was registered by Mr Chalmers with Companies House.

A bid, believed to have been submitted by the Chalmers consortium, was rejected just after Christmas, and a last-minute attempt to save the club fell through at the start of the New Year after the bidder, thought to be former Wasps Rugby Union chairman David Thorne, withdrew their offer.

Mr Chalmers’ consortium was believed to include local waste management company the Leo Group when it made its initial bid, but it is unclear whether the company is still involved.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins welcomed the news.

“I look forward to the further announcements and to hearing the new owner’s vision for our club,” she said. “More importantly, I look forward to rugby resuming at Odsal Stadium.

“The RFL has worked very hard in difficult circumstances to get us to this point and I pay tribute to all those who have got us here. I hope what follows now does Bradford, rugby league and the loyal fans that we have here proud.”

Former Bradford South MP and Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: “It’s been a long story and I just hope that there’s now an opportunity to grow and develop the club.”

Along with Bradford restaurateur Omar Khan, Mr Sutcliffe helped bring the Bulls out of their first administration in 2012 but they handed over the reins within 12 months.

Now that new owners have been found, the club can focus on getting as ready as possible for the start of the season on February 5.

Bradford’s opening game is away at Hull Kingston Rovers, who were relegated from Super League last season, and before that the Bulls are scheduled to play Huddersfield Giants in what is supposed to be former Giants player Luke Robinson’s testimonial match.

The new club will start with a 12-point deduction.

The group of players still training together includes Bulls legend veteran halfback Leon Pryce along with Alex Foster, Ilies Macani and Ross Peltier, who all joined the club at the end of last season.