AN OFFER to buy the Bradford Bulls is being considered but a decision is not now expected to be made until after Christmas, the Telegraph & Argus understands.

Fans had been hoping for some early Christmas cheer today, with the announcement of a new owner anticipated to take place this afternoon.

However, the deal is not now expected to be done until Tuesday at the earliest.

After a week of meetings with the Rugby Football League, the sole remaining bidder for the club decided yesterday evening it would go ahead with an offer to buy the Bulls.

The sale had hinged on whether a deal could be done with the RFL to secure the leasehold on Odsal Stadium, with administrator Gary Pettit saying if an agreement could not be reached there would be no deal.

A formal offer was sent by the bidder to Mr Pettit this afternoon.

By 6.15pm today, there had still been no announcement.

Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, said she was “cautiously optimistic” with the progress that had been made.

She said: “I am firmly of the view that any deal has to have rugby league at its heart and safeguard the future of the Bradford Bulls, including the club’s legacy. I will continue to offer my full support to any deal that achieves that for the fans, players and employees of the Bulls, the people of Bradford and the wider rugby league family.

“I think it’s important to get the right deal rather than the quick deal; we all want to secure the future of the Bulls, and to stop this kind of thing from happening again.

“My message to the fans would be, let’s keep working towards a deal that secures the long term future of the Bulls.”

A source told the Telegraph & Argus that the bid that was submitted to the administrator had the backing of RFL, and that both the governing body and the bidder believed the bid would take the club forward.

Paul Butterworth, chairman of BullBuilder, the Bradford Bulls Supporters Trust, said it was disappointing the sale did not go ahead.

He said: “It’s a bit disappointing for the fans but if it’s going to be a positive outcome I think the fans can wait a bit longer.

“I just hope the players and the staff have been paid so they can have a relaxing Christmas.”

Administrator Gary Pettit, managing director of PBC Business Recovery and Insolvency, was put in charge of the Bulls when the club was placed into administration by former owner Marc Green.

It was the third time in four years the club had been in administration.

When he was placed in charge of the Bulls, Mr Pettit said he wanted to put the club “back where it belongs” and would look carefully to ensure the right party took control of the club.