Bradford Bulls' famous Bullettes dancers have been sacked and replaced with a new troupe.

And the Bullettes cheerleaders, who entertained match day crowds at Odsal Stadium, were told their contracts were not being renewed just a week before the start of new Super League season.

At yesterday's first Super League game against Sheffield Eagles, the nine Bullettes had to watch from the stands as the new troupe danced for the crowds.

Sacked choreographer Hazel Clay, who coaches the nine dancers, aged 16 to 22, said: "We weren't even given a chance to say goodbye to our fans."

And some mothers whose daughters are with the junior Bullettes branded the decision as "disgusting."

But the man behind the decision, Dave King who runs the entertainment at Odsal said: "We have been saying for two years we wanted the girls to be older and wanted 20 fully trained girls to make up a large team."

And he claimed that the old Bullettes gathered round the tunnel and booed their new successors, "which was a shame."

Mrs Clay will continue to coach the 193-strong group of 'junior' Bullettes who will make occasional half time appearances at the stadium. She said she was surprised at the decision and sorry her dancers were not allowed to take their final bow before the Odsal crowd.

The Bullettes have provided pre-match entertainment at Odsal since 1996 and at several top games including a Great Britain match and have an enviable reputation within the Super League.

"It was unexpected decision and we were surprised by it," said Mrs Clay. "It would have been nice if the girls had been able to say goodbye to the fans and given a last performance, in front of the crowd - it could have been announced they were retiring. I'd like to thank all the supporters on behalf of the Bullettes and myself. We have enjoyed the time we have spent dancing there and we have appreciated their support."

Before yesterday's games, parents of some of the junior Bullettes - whom the club insists are unaffected - said they were disgusted.

One mother said: "We're all totally disgusted. They've been training all year and they give up so much time."

Another mother added: "All the Bullettes are going to support the team this season even though they will have to sit in the crowd and not dance."

Dave King who also arranges match day entertainment at Nottingham Forest FC, said: "I think the new girls did really well - it's not just about dancing, it's the whole spectacle. It's a rugby game at the end of the day, it's not Swan Lake."

He wanted to see the girls interacting with the crowd more instead of just dancing.

"We have made it clear that any of the old Bullettes are welcome to train with the new squad and new choreographer but it's a squad system - only ten will be chosen out of 20 or 30 to dance on the day."

lIn addition, six of last season's matchday programme sellers have been dropped and replaced with an eight-strong new promotions team. Gary Tasker, chief executive, said: "A lot of last year's sellers were not up to the mark. We were selling a lot fewer programmes than Leeds.

"The new sellers are a proper promotion and sales team who have come in to enhance and work with some of the existing people."

One of the old sellers, who did not want to be named, said: "If they wanted to sell more programmes they could have asked the existing programme sellers for ideas. I am a bit miffed. We were told two weeks ago."

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