URGENT talks are being held by the Rugby Football League to save the professional sport in Bradford following the liquidation of Bradford Bulls.

The club ceased trading yesterday, hours after the last remaining bidder pulled the plug on its interest in buying it.

It is understood the Rugby Football League has already begun negotiations to form a new ‘phoenix club’ which will play in the 2017 Kingstone Press Championship and start with a 12 point deduction.

It is speaking with previous bidders for the club, and is also encouraging new interested parties to come forward.

In a statement, the RFL said: “The administrator of Bradford Bulls has confirmed that the club has ceased trading.

“While this is terribly disappointing and sad, 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.”

Through its charitable arm, Rugby League Cares, the RFL is offering support to staff and players who are now free agents after their contracts were terminated.

“The independent RFL Board has met to determine how the future of professional rugby league in Bradford can move forward in 2017,” the statement continued.

“While a number of alternatives were considered, the board were 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 Championship to any new club in Bradford and that such a club start the 2017 season on -12 points.

“The RFL believes that rugby league needs Bradford and Bradford deserves a strong and stable professional club, and will work with all interested parties to deliver that outcome.”

The RFL is already committed to Bradford as a city of rugby league, following the announcement last year that the National Rugby League Museum would be based in City Hall.

Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, has demanded radical action from the RFL to protect the future of the Bradford Bulls.

She is also demanding 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 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 to make sure there is a future for the Bradford Bulls.

“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.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said she was “hugely disappointed” that the administrator was unable to find a buyer for the Bulls.

She said: “This is a difficult time for Bulls' employees, players and fans.

"We know the RFL worked hard to support a positive outcome which would protect the interests of rugby league in Bradford.

“I’m glad they are now taking steps to quickly re-establish the Bulls in time for the 2017 season. Everyone is keen to get behind a new owner who can deliver a secure future for the club.”

Paul Butterworth, chairman of Bradford Bulls Supporters Trust, said the game as a whole needs a Bradford club.

He said: “Everyone associated with the Bulls is gutted, especially for the players, the staff and their families.

“Having a club is so important to Bradford and I hope positive things will be put into place to keep the dedicated staff and players in 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.”

Brian Noble played the majority of his career at Bradford, and also coached the Bulls in the early 2000s, winning three Super League titles, three World Club Challenges, two League Leaders’ Shields and one Challenge Cup.

He said it was an “extremely sad and disappointing day for the fans, the club and rugby league as a whole”.

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

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

The Bulls were due to start the season with a trip to Hull KR on February 5.

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