THURSDAY POLL: Avoiding relegation is Green’s priority at Bradford

Typically, considering the perpetual drama surrounding the former Super League champions in recent times, the eventual endgame was not straightforward but long-suffering supporters will care little this morning.

London-based businessman Richard Lamb and his consortium had been expected to take control having had an offer accepted by the administrator last week.

However, he failed to meet a RFL deadline to provide proof of funds, opening the way for Green – a club debenture holder and its biggest creditor after his company loaned them around £150,00 last September when Omar Khan was in charge – to seal a deal.

The 48-year-old, who is managing director of Leeds-based Safeguard Security Group, had his bid ratified by the governing body and, so, Bradford now have their fourth new regime in less than two years.

As chairman of new holding company Bradford Bulls Northern Ltd, Green met with staff and players yesterday and spoke of his desire to “restore the club to its former glory.”

The most pressing matter, though, is, of course, avoiding relegation and pulling away from the bottom of the table where they sit on minus two points after being deducted six for their insolvency breaches.

Head coach Francis Cummins will need investment in his paper-thin squad in order to achieve that and, after being assured by the new owner his own position is safe, is waiting to see if funds will be made available to strengthen his playing personnel.

Principally, though, he was simply relieved yesterday at seeing the turbulent situation – Bradford have been in administration three times since 2012 – resolved.

Green has made a smart move already in installing the vastly experienced Steve Ferres as the club’s new managing director.

Bradford fans will remember him fondly mainly as part of their famous back-to-back Championship winning sides of 1979-81.

Moreover, however, since the end of his playing and coaching career, Ferres has carved out a niche as a firefighter at clubs in crisis, whether working for the RFL or as chief executive at Wakefield and, latterly, Castleford.

He will prove a crucial link between the football and business operation at Odsal, offering guidance and support for the relative rookie Robbie Hunter-Paul who remains as chief executive.

Green, meanwhile, initially caused disdain among irked Bulls supporters when it emerged he had effectively forced the club into administration in January.

But Green maintained, if he had not taken that action, one of the sport’s most famous names would have been immediately wound up by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Instead, this morning, he owns it and said: “I am really pleased to have completed the takeover of this fantastic club.

“Bradford Bulls is a major sporting brand in the United Kingdom and I think this has been proven by the sheer volume of national media coverage which the club has received throughout the process of its future being secured. I have been working with the Bulls for the best part of six months, prior to this, and I think it is important for the supporters, stakeholders and staff to work towards restoring this club to its former glory.

“Now that the takeover is complete, the team and I are in a position to move forward with the business.

“We are confident, in a short amount of time, we can make a full audit of every business unit and prioritise the aspects that will make the biggest impact.

“We will be working extremely hard over the coming months, with our No 1 objective and main priority being to ensure Super League survival for this historic club.”

Cummins admitted his squad were pleased to be addressed by the new chairman at their Tong training base yesterday.

“We’ve been in the tumble dryer for a while getting thrown all over the place but Marc was really straight to the point and that’s how we speak at Tong,” he said.

“He’s going to do his best just like us.”

Mandy Koukash – wife of Salford Red Devils’ millionaire owner – saw her bid rejected in favour of Green’s and last night insisted she was “very disappointed” by the lack of contact with those involved in the sale as “twice I attempted to increase my bid”.