RFL delay meeting over Bradford Bulls points deduction (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

RFL delay meeting over Bradford Bulls points deduction

8:01pm Friday 20th July 2012 in Bulls By Ian Laybourn

The Bulls must wait to discover how many points they are to be docked for going into administration.

They were expected to learn their fate today when the Rugby Football League’s board of directors met to discuss the financial crisis at Odsal but they decided any announcement would be premature while attempts are ongoing to save the club from liquidation.

Brendan Guilfoyle, the joint administrator of the beleaguered Bulls, met RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer and licensing director Blake Solly at Red Hall today to update the governing body on details of an offer he has received from a local consortium.

“The executive will consider details of the offer over the weekend and early next week before getting back to the administrator with their views,” said an RFL spokesman.

The ABC consortium, a group of local Asian businessmen, yesterday formally submitted a bid to Guilfoyle, who said it remained subject to them being able to buy back from the RFL the lease to the Odsal Stadium and a guarantee that the Bulls will retain their Super League status.

Guilfoyle has until next Friday to find a buyer, although he has the option of a further extension of the deadline if he feels he can complete a deal.

Bradford are bracing themselves for a six-point deduction, the normal punishment for a breach of the game’s insolvency regulations.

However, both Wakefield and Crusaders were docked four points when they entered administration on the eve of the 2011 season after the RFL directors took into account the new owners’ willingness to pay off some of the debts to creditors.