The Rugby Football League have admitted their concerns as the Bulls bid to beat today’s investment deadline and stave off the looming threat of administration.

Up to £1.2million is needed to safeguard the club’s future until the end of the season, with HM Revenue & Customs having threatened to serve a winding-up petition earlier this month over unpaid tax.

The Bulls recently filed a notice of intention to enter administration, giving them a fortnight’s grace to complete negotiations with potential investors, but that deadline ends today.

Blake Solly, the RFL’s director of licensing and standards, admits time is against the Bulls’ board of directors as they look to deliver the necessary investment to avoid administration.

Solly told the Telegraph & Argus: “The RFL appreciate that the notice of intention expires today and, as we understand it, no investors have come forward, which is obviously a cause for great concern.

“We are aware that the HMRC have taken an increasingly aggressive attitude towards sports clubs who are behind in their payments.

“With the protection the club has from the court expiring today, obviously we are concerned that the club will possibly enter administration.”

The Bulls can apply for an extension to the moratorium but would need to provide evidence of funds being in place.

Yet Solly added: “They can apply to the courts for the moratorium to be extended but my understanding is that the club aren’t going to seek to do that.

“If someone wants to wind the club up, there’s still a process that can take many weeks.

It’s not a case that the moratorium expires today and the club will be wound up tomorrow.

“There are still some further processes to go through, but the club will have to make some hard decisions after today.”

Pressed for an answer on whether he felt the Bulls will stave off administration, Solly reasoned: “It’s difficult to tell because it’s a question that only the directors and those advising them can answer.

“Only they will know how close to success the discussions with interested parties are.

“We’re just supporting Stephen Coulby, Ryan Duckett and those advising them in their discussions with investors.

“It’s far too early to speculate on what might materialise if the worst happens, simply because each administration is very different.

“Bradford Bulls are an iconic name but there are a lot of things which need to happen for the club to keep going.”