ONLINE POLL: Lamb still interested despite Bulls’ loss of points

The firm interest of Lucid Direct’s co-owner – a marketing, events and hospitality firm – offers some light for the former Super League champions following yesterday’s remarkable afternoon of scathing claims and counter-claims.

Bradford were hit with a maximum six-point deduction for entering administration for the second time in 18 months, which immediately jeopardises their future in the competition given the return of relegation this term.

The ruling prompted the club’s directors and prospective owners to quit, but not before launching a searing broadside on the game’s governing body.

Chairman Mark Moore claimed, among other things, that the RFL had shown “poor leadership”, failed to follow protocols, failed to even consult the club’s business plans and, essentially, led to Bradford failing to secure an amicable takeover from previous owner Omar Khan, precipitating a subsequent fall into administration.

Understandably, the governing body responded with some venom of their own.

A snapshot of their riposte includes claims the directors twice tried purchasing Bradford through the club’s own money, admitted earlier this month they needed an investment – or advance of broadcast monies – of half-a-million pounds simply to continue trading and, furthermore, would also leave HMRC with a liability of £170,000.

All of which, most worryingly, leaves the future of one of the sport’s biggest names in significant doubt once more.

Despite Moore’s claims the points deduction makes relegation “almost a certainty”, coach Francis Cummins is confident they can overcome the deficit.

But they have been put in special measures by the RFL, which could thwart attempts to strengthen the playing roster unless the ownership issue is resolved.

Lamb, for his part, is keen to revive a deal and it would be no surprise if Bradford City – who had also expressed an interest – took another look.

Lamb told the Yorkshire Post last night: “I spoke to the administrator this afternoon and said my position hasn’t changed since I put my bid in last Thursday.

“I understand the whole process is different now and my understanding is the club will be run in administration – rather than buying the assets – but my position is exactly the same; I want to look at buying the club. I had conversations with (Bradford finance director) Andrew Lamb at the back end of last week anyway about potentially buying a majority share.

“It’s not a great position to be in but unfortunately the six points are there and I don’t think that is negotiable. The trouble with sporting clubs is you can’t keep flopping into administration and saying you spent too much and had a bad season before clearing the debt by going down that route.

“It’s unfortunate for the fans and sponsors but hopefully I can reach an agreement.”

Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd, the holding company led by Moore which had a bid to purchase the club from the administrator accepted last week, still needed ratification from the RFL.

But he insists the governing body’s actions led to their retreat.

“In addition (to the points), the governing body wished to place the club’s licence into special measures, which, as successful businessmen, will likely taint our personal dealings while embarrass us all professionally,” he said.

“I am also extremely surprised by the current position of the RFL, given the fact that they have guided us and advised us on the majority of decisions made over the past five to six months.

“This poor leadership by the RFL was, I believe, detrimental to the ownership of the club being agreed amicably, which then ultimately led to it then being forced into administration.

“It feels like a real slap in the face to our team, our partners, the sport and, most importantly, our supporters, of whom we have been working tirelessly for.”

However, Ralph Rimmer, the RFL’s chief operating officer, “absolutely refuted” the claims they had provided sub-standard leadership.

“The root cause of the current situation is the failed attempt by Mark Moore and (former Bradford general manager) Ryan Whitcut to use the club’s own money to purchase Bradford Bulls from Omar Khan, who had left the club in a parlous state,” he said.

“Moore intended to use the club’s season ticket revenue to purchase the club from Mr Khan but, when that deal fell through and Moore refused to honour the agreement with Khan, the RFL, at the request of both parties, intervened to try and broker a deal.

“Unfortunately, Mr Khan did not conclude the deal.

“Had Mr Moore not refused to honour the agreement he signed to buy the club from Mr Khan, Bradford Bulls would not be where they are today.

“Throughout our dealings with them, the club’s directors were unable to provide any evidence of new capital investment into Bradford Bulls and consequently, the RFL Executive had no confidence in the business plan that was presented.

“At no stage was there a firm written commitment from the directors to meet the liabilities.

“In the last six months two other clubs have had to restructure their businesses, introduce new investment from owners and release players to avoid administration. For Bradford to effectively drop off debt as a result of the administration without a points deduction would have significantly impaired the integrity of the competition.

“At a meeting with the club’s directors on February 7 they informed the RFL that they needed a further £500,000 of investment or advances of broadcast monies in order to continue to trade.

“We have seen nothing further from the directors to suggest that situation has improved.

“Indeed their business plan revealed yet another attempt to buy the club with its own money.”

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Cummins will stay: Page 20.