I wouldn't like to see Bulls to go out of business, says ex-Bantams chairman Mark Lawn

After the club entered administration for the third time in just five years, they are looking desperately for new investment.

Owner Marc Green has said he hopes to take the club out of administration but, having overseen more periods of financial woe, many fans hope there will be a new regime arriving.

Lawn certainly had success at Valley Parade alongside Julian Rhodes for almost a decade before selling the football club to two German businessmen in May.

With administrators now seeking to strike a deal, he has expressed an interest regarding the fallen Super League side.

“I wouldn’t like to see the Bulls go out of business,” said Lawn, who, along with Rhodes, explored acquiring Bradford in both 2012 and 2014 when they last hit such problems.

“If there is anything I can do to stop that happening, then I’ll try my best.”

Tax officials said at a hearing in a Bankruptcy and Companies Court in London last month that the club owes around £350,000.

However, Bradford bosses estimated the debt at nearer £133,000 and barrister Rowena Page told a judge that more than £100,000 had already been paid.

Green said this week: “There is a dispute between ourselves and HMRC, which we have been working hard to resolve since the winding-up petition was issued, and despite two adjournments from the courts to resolve this matter we have been unable to do so.”

Bulls finished fifth in the Championship; only the top four sealed a place in the Qualifiers that gave clubs an opportunity to reach Super League.