Green rules out administration at troubled Bradford

BRADFORD Bulls chairman Marc Green last night vowed the former World Club champions are not facing a third administration in five years despite wages remaining unpaid at Odsal.
Marc Green.Marc Green.
Marc Green.

Having returned from holiday late on Tuesday night, he called a meeting of concerned staff yesterday to apologise for that worrying matter.

Green insisted money would be in their accounts by close of business Friday.

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However, he conceded the Bulls are struggling after what a club statement described as the “toughest personal and professional” period of his life had put his and the club’s financial position “under pressure.”

Bradford, who confirmed on Monday that managing director Steve Ferres had quit after they failed to make the Qualifiers, have endured a series of significant setbacks while their owner has been in Ibiza.

The dire last-day 20-0 defeat at Featherstone Rovers on July 24 saw them finish fifth in the Championship, denying them a lucrative top-four place and the chance to challenge for promotion back to Super League.

It was revealed a few days later that a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs will be heard in London on September 5.

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Green said the club are appealing that but it did little to assuage the fears of their staff – whose wages are still unpaid despite being due last Friday – and fans, many of whom have already seen Bradford suffer the debilitating effects of administration in 2012 and 2014.

However, the statement says that, during yesterday’s address, Green “strongly reaffirmed the position that he has not looked for and will not consider sending the club into administration.”

It continued: “At this time, he is exploring the many commercial options available to the club and is confident he will secure its short and long-term future.

“He is currently working on strategies to improve every element of the business including the performance department, which will include working with current managers to reinforce the foundations built over the last few years and take the club forward.”

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Green also said he “has the club’s best interest at heart and is looking forward to the final run of games.”

Those, though, are in the Championship Shield which open with a trip to Whitehaven on Sunday and involve uninspiring – and financially poor – fixtures with the likes of Oldham, Workington and Swinton Lions.

Elsewhere, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have three academy products all hoping to debut at Wigan Warriors tomorrow night.

Teenagers Judah Mazive, Frazer Morris and Liam Senior are all in the initial 19-man squad and Bill Tupou could return.

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Captain Danny Kirmond (knee) and Ben Jones-Bishop (shoulder) both miss out after returning carrying injuries into last Saturday’s Cup semi-final defeat by Warrington Wolves.

For their Super 8s opener at home to Castleford Tigers, Hull FC coach Lee Radford has named the same 19 squad as he did ahead of last Friday’s Challenge Cup semi-final win over Wigan.

Jordan Abdull and Josh Bowden are the players who missed out last week for the Super League leaders.

The competition’s top try-scorer Denny Solomona (food poisoning) could return for Castleford.

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