TALKS over the proposed sale of the Bulls have reached a critical stage, the Telegraph & Argus understands.

The consortium headed by former Wakefield director Chris Brereton have been looking to buy the cash-stricken club from chairman Andrew Chalmers.

But they have been unable to pursue a deal until the club’s accounts are filed with Companies House – something that has still not happened.

The interested group insist that Chalmers, who is back home Down Under, is still to fulfil all his obligations to push forward a buy-out for the club, who are believed to be more than £500,000 in debt.

The longer negotiations drag on, the more fans will sense that an agreement will not be reached plunging the Bulls into further uncertainty.

The club have scheduled a fans forum with Brereton on Tuesday and Wednesday night at Dewsbury’s Tetley’s Stadium, the club’s temporary home for next season.

Tickets quickly sold out with supporters desperate for some kind of reassurances as they fear another financial meltdown after the three recent administrations.

Ross Peltier’s exit for Doncaster on Friday leaves head coach John Kear with just 12 contracted players as it stands. Further departures are expected to follow in a bid to try to ease the growing amount of money owed to creditors.

The Bulls are in no position to make any signings while they are in special measures – which the RFL will not lift until they have guarantees that the club can afford to operate in 2020.