Bulls owner Omar Khan this evening denied the club is on the brink of another financial crisis after it was revealed that players and staff will not be paid for another week at least.

Wages were due to be paid on or around the 28th of the month but the delay will now be extended until August 8, meaning Francis Cummins’ squad will go into Sunday’s pivotal game at Wakefield without having received last month’s wages.

Khan attributed the delay to a “temporary funding issue” in the following statement on the club’s official website and insisted the Bulls were not poised to enter administration for the second time in 12 months.

He said: “To all Bradford Bulls supporters I would like to dispel all rumours and confirm that the club is NOT going into administration.

“But as I have always taken the approach of open transparency I will say that we are at this time experiencing a temporary funding issue and as such it transpires that we will not be able to pay the wages until Wednesday, August 8.

“We have made every endeavour to minimise the effect on all concerned and I would like to emphasise that this is a temporary issue that does not affect the future of the club, its players or its staff.

“We have a busy couple of months ahead of us and I hope all of the Bradford Bulls supporters will get in behind the lads and help push them over these final few games of the season, especially as the play-offs beckon.

“We also have some big announcements ready to make in the coming months that will excite and encourage all of the Bulls supporters.

“Should any individual have any immediate concerns I would urge them to e-mail general manager Ryan Whitcut on ryan.whitcut@bradfordbulls.co.uk.”