THE Rugby Football League admit that keeping Bradford in the 2017 Kingstone Press Championship was the "least worst option".

The governing body have given the go-ahead for the reformed Bulls to continue under new ownership in the second tier of the professional game, rather than starting at the bottom in League One.

Andrew Chalmers, a former chairman of New Zealand Rugby League, and ex-Wigan, Manly and Kiwis coach Graham Lowe have set up a new company to run the club and are expected to make a series of key announcements during a media conference at Odsal tomorrow afternoon.

The RFL have come under fire for their handling of the long-running saga but chief executive Nigel Wood and chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer told a briefing at MediaCityUK that the New Zealand pair offered the best option for the future of the Bradford club.

David Thorne, another New Zealander who expressed an interest in forming a new club, was one of the outspoken critics of the RFL but Wood confirmed that he was not one of the four bidders and he refuted a claim by failed bidder Richard Lamb that he had offered to put £1million into a new club.

Wood said of the Chalmers offer: "This was the most convincing bid. There were at least two other groups who couldn't move quickly enough but we are very happy to work with the new owners."

Rimmer says the RFL have undertaken due diligence on the new owners and revealed that Chalmers broke off a holiday in New Caledonia to fly over to set up the new club and intends to take up residency in the UK.

"A rugby league experience was a big part of the decision," he said. "There is some capital investment as well but they have got a rugby league understanding which was more compelling than anybody else in the race."

The new club will start the season – the first game is at Hull KR on Sunday, February 5 – on minus 12 points and will receive a central funding of just £150,000, as opposed to the £270,000 they were due before liquidation.

Rimmer admitted the possibility of promoting newcomers Toronto Wolfpack, who have a full-time squad in training for the start of their inaugural League One campaign, was considered but ruled impractical.

"There was a lot of time pressures and the board had to take a decision. We had to be able to tell the purchaser what they were buying," he said.

"All clubs in League One had contracted their squads and set themselves up for League One campaigns and likewise in the Championship the fixture list was set up.

"There was a collection of players and staff who want to stay (at Bradford) and we had to take into account the 1,000 season-ticket holders.

"The board has absolute discretion but took all these factors into account and had to make a decision quickly. This was the least worst option.

"We think we've taken a pragmatic view in the best interests of the game. You might call it a compromise but it was taken in the wider interests of the sport."

The new owners' first task will be to appoint a new coach following the decision not to re-engage Australian Rohan Smith and plug the gaps created by the departure of a host of senior players.

Former Hull KR stand-off Dane Chisholm is the latest player to leave the old club, having confirmed the news on social media, and he left with a parting shot, describing the way the players have been treated as "absolutely appalling".

The 26-year-old Australian, who joined the Bulls last year and made 11 appearances, claims he had to call the club for an update on his future, only to be told he would not be offered a new deal.

Chisholm said: "Sorry to all the Bradford boys and supporters but the new owners have made the decision not to keep me on board for 2017. I had to call the club myself to find out the news.

"The way all the players, staff and fans have been treated throughout this whole situation is absolutely appalling and I'm so proud of how you all have conducted yourselves."

Forward Lachlan Burr, who had signed for Bulls during the off-season from NRL side Gold Coast Titans, has been linked with a move to Leigh Centurions.

The players still remaining with the club resumed training at midday today to prepare for a pre-season match against Huddersfield on Sunday.