Dave Craven: Bradford’s troubles leave an awful stench hanging over Odsal

Given the number of times in this surreal week that people involved at forlorn Bradford Bulls have told me things just ‘do not smell right’, or words to that effect, it is hard to disagree.

Much like a decaying rat, slumped under some far off floorboard, the root cause of the stench may not be discovered for some time yet.

Undoubtedly, though, the chain of events played out this week has left a real stink and proved to be one of the lowest moments in the sport’s recent history.

Considering the club’s financial plight, it was always a possibility that some redundancies would be made as the administrator Brendan Guilfoyle looked to steer the stricken business away from liquidation.

But the scale of the cost-saving cuts – 15 staff, including chief executive Ryan Duckett plus head coach Mick Potter and all his assistants were axed Monday morning – was the real surprise.

Some of those affected had already inadvertently got wind of what was to come before Friday’s brilliant win at Wigan, so it did not come as a huge shock.

But making such massive cuts, including to many much-needed positions, seemed bizarre and it was no surprise the conspiracy theories soon gathered pace.

Ever since the club went into administration, many at the club have felt former chairman and biggest single shareholder Chris Caisley would eventually re-emerge in some capacity.

The idea was that ex-coach Brian Noble would also return on a voluntary basis to steer them through Sunday’s game, possibly with Gary Tasker involved as an interim CEO.

The club would inevitably then go into liquidation before being resurrected under a new name.

Tasker has come on board and Noble was, indeed, approached and it all seemed to be coming to fruition. But fans’ outrage at the treatment of much-liked Potter and disgust at the prospect of Noble returning caused a change of heart in the former Odsal hero.

Amid all of this, a harassed Guilfoyle himself had to make a statement saying there was no conspiracy to allow any former directors or shareholders to buy the club cheaply.

The Rugby Football League have also moved to put him in touch with a few interested parties.

Guilfoyle’s biggest faux pas, though, was not attending a meeting with players on Tuesday which further enraged the concerned squad. They have now persuaded Potter to return on a voluntary basis and he will take charge against London Broncos.

It has been a murky few days and purely shambolic at times at Odsal.

As Guilfoyle had axed Stuart Duffy, the Bulls’ long-serving PR, media and football manager, Tasker had to contact the RFL to relay the message of Potter’s return to journalists at Wednesday’s England game – there was no one to even send out a press release.

Conditioner Geoff Evans was mistakenly made redundant – players cannot train in the Bulls gym without his professional expertise – but the Australian is now employed again but with just five office staff left on the books, how was Tasker expected to then stage a match?

Thankfully, it is not just Potter and his coaches who have returned to help out. Duffy will be there doing his bit as will kitman/groundsman Leigh Beattie.

It is people like them, and Duckett – who initially joined part-time while still at university but went on to fulfil most roles in the Bulls office – who are the very fabric of this great club.

Likewise, axed sponsorship chief Debbie Charlton and junior development boss Paul Medley, people who make it all tick.

Whoever rescues the club – and someone no doubt will – can be safe in the knowledge these experienced individuals are all ready to return and get its heart beating regularly once more.