Bulls ‘confident’ despite £15m blow

Bradford Council’s decision to redirect £15m of council cash that had been ring-fenced for the scheme “came as no surprise,” according to Bulls chairman Peter Hood.

“It may well still prove possible to deliver the sports village as envisaged in a number of phases, albeit over a longer period of time. On the other hand it may be possible only to deliver a scaled-down version,” Mr Hood said.

“Contrary to some media reports, it was never the case that this £15m was going directly to Bradford Bulls to develop a stadium. The money was destined for a trust company being set up by the council through which it, not the Bulls, would run the health, leisure and sports facilities for the benefit of people across the district.”

Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood said he thought any stadium would have to be financed by private sector money.