THE COST for the Rugby Football League of maintaining Odsal Stadium next season will be around £200,000, according to a report.

Bradford are playing at Dewsbury Rams in 2020, with the RFL having decided to mothball the empty Odsal site and keep the option open for a possible return by the Bulls in 2021.

As reported by League Express, the RFL stated in a summary of last week's board meeting which was distributed to clubs: "The financial impact of 'mothballing' and maintaining Odsal for a year, with a view to Bradford Bulls, under its new ownership, returning in 2021, is around £200,000 per annum (including direct cost and an estimate of foregone rent on the current formula)."

The RFL bought the lease at Odsal for around £1.2 million in 2012 and had been charging Bulls £72,000 per year in rent.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins is spearheading a campaign - backed by the T&A - to return the club to the city.

By 6pm on Monday, more than 700 had already signed a petition launched that day to illustrate the strong sentiment among fans.

Read more: Bring Bulls back to Bradford campaign

If the petition hits 1,500 signatures, it will have to be debated at Bradford Council's next full Council meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10.

And RFL chairman Simon Johnson has called on the council - who own the freehold at Odsal - to help facilitate Bulls' return.

He said: "Other parties, and by that we mean the city council in Bradford, also need to support the RFL and play their part in supporting us as landlords, in ensuring that the Bulls do return to Bradford."