BRADFORD BULLS can today announce the completion of a change to its ownership.

OK Bulls Ltd was this morning placed into administration following a discrepancy over the planned transfer of shares to the club’s current directors, an agreement which was reached, in principal, earlier this month.

On Thursday, January 9, a meeting was held between all of the Bulls’ important stakeholders.

The afternoon’s discussions – chaired by the Rugby Football League – resulted in an agreement regarding the transfer of shares from the club’s former owner, Omar Khan, to the Bulls’ current board of directors.

However, despite all parties concurring on the matter during the meeting and undertaking the construction of a contract, an unforeseen development recently came to light. And as a result, continued efforts to resolve the club’s ongoing ownership issue came to a standstill late last week.

David Wilson, of Leeds-based DFW Associates, was appointed administrator of the club’s former holding company after it transpired that the company’s financial position had become untenable.

The Super League club has since been purchased by Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd.

On behalf of DFW Associates, Mr Wilson said: “Upon the sanction of the Rugby Football League, we will have concluded the sale of the club to Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd.

“It had not proved possible to resolve the ownership of the company with the previous owner and, as a result, the company’s financial position had become untenable.”

The new company is to operate under the directorship of Andrew Calvert, Mark Moore, Ian Watt and Robbie Hunter-Paul.

All players, employees and assets have been transferred to the new company, who will continue to function as Bradford Bulls – in Super League.

The club now intends to approach the RFL to discuss its future and seek to avoid a points deduction, as the board of directors have stated their intentions to continue to work with creditors.

Although technical issues are likely to arise due to the changeover, Bradford Bulls will continue to operate as normal.

Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd have also agreed to honour all BELONG 2014 season tickets, insisting they will deliver on all terms of their purchase.

Both the administrator and the directors of Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd are delighted to confirm that they have been able to secure the future of the club.

A spokesperson for the Bradford Bulls added: “Although a resolution wasn’t found after all avenues were exhausted, we feel the new company will give the club’s supporters much-needed clarity in terms of who is running, directing and owning their club.

For legal reasons, the club cannot make further comment at this time.

Long overdue.

The iconic Bulls brand hadn't been in the news for all the wrong reasons for over a week.

I suspected this was on the cards. At least there was no long protracted period of being in administration this time.

And they've strategically avoided a points deduction in a crucial season where relegation is a distinct possibility!

Just the full entitlement to Sky funding to be negotiated and secured by the latest bunch of barrow boy guvnors now

Can they be sure of that?
Only if they pay off all the creditors in full?

Who knows where this will end. One plus is that OK & his merry men are out of the picture but whether the new bunch can do any better remains to be seen.

Given that it's worded as the Bulls [i"former holding company"[/i which has been placed into administration, I'm assuming that's the deliberate ruse employed to avoid a points deduction?

Surely the bigger point is that at some stage the Bulls will go bust - properly, out-of-existence bust - unless they change a business model that has consistently lost money and left them in hock to creditors for the last decade.

If I was a Wakefield fan, whose club has sold Smith, Amor, Aiton, Cockayne to avoid exactly the situation the Bulls are in again I'd be looking at Bradford's squad list, then looking at the prospect of relegation and then screaming blue murder.

would anyone be able to hear you as you helped build Belle Vue?!

I feel for the fans,but Bradford RL have had more regenerations than Doctor Who

Quote ="William Eve"Given that it's worded as the Bulls [i"former holding company"[/i which has been placed into administration, I'm assuming that's the deliberate ruse employed to avoid a points deduction?'" These articles might suggest otherwise: www.loverugbyleague.com/news_141 ... ction.html www.superleague.co.uk/article/29 ... -confirmed They both state that the new owners are seek to avoid a points deduction.

Quote ="William Eve"Given that it's worded as the Bulls [i"former holding company"[/i which has been placed into administration, I'm assuming that's the deliberate ruse employed to avoid a points deduction?'" These articles might suggest otherwise: www.loverugbyleague.com/news_141 ... ction.html www.superleague.co.uk/article/29 ... -confirmed They both state that the new owners are seek to avoid a points deduction.

Quote ="Old Feller"These articles might suggest otherwise: www.loverugbyleague.com/news_141 ... ction.html www.superleague.co.uk/article/29 ... -confirmed They both state that the new owners are seek to avoid a points deduction.'" Both those links you've supplied refer to the "[uformer[/u holding company" (which I alluded to earlier) being placed into administration. And this news article below appeared on the official Bradford Bulls website earlier this afternoon but has now been hastily removed... 31st January 2014 [i"BRADFORD BULLS officials have this afternoon announced that the club will not suffer a points deduction, as a result of its former operating company entering administration. OK Bulls Ltd was placed into administration this morning but the club has since been purchased by Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd. And, on behalf of the new board of directors, chairman Mark Moore has confirmed that the Bulls are to remain a First Utility Super League side and will start the new season on zero points"[/i. Even ITV news website got in on the act before it was hastily revised... [url=https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Bradford+Bulls+have+avoided+the+threat+of+a+second+points+deduction+in+two+years+after+the+ongoing+saga+over+the+troubled+Super+League+club&meta=#hl=en&q=Bradford+Bulls+have+avoided+the+threat+of+a+second+points+deduction+in+two+years+after+the+ongoing+saga+over+the+troubled+Super+League+club"Bradford Bulls have avoided the threat of a second points deduction in two years after the ongoing saga over the troubled Super League club ..."[/url

Quote ="Old Feller"These articles might suggest otherwise: www.loverugbyleague.com/news_141 ... ction.html www.superleague.co.uk/article/29 ... -confirmed They both state that the new owners are seek to avoid a points deduction.'" Both those links you've supplied refer to the "[uformer[/u holding company" (which I alluded to earlier) being placed into administration. And this news article below appeared on the official Bradford Bulls website earlier this afternoon but has now been hastily removed... 31st January 2014 [i"BRADFORD BULLS officials have this afternoon announced that the club will not suffer a points deduction, as a result of its former operating company entering administration. OK Bulls Ltd was placed into administration this morning but the club has since been purchased by Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd. And, on behalf of the new board of directors, chairman Mark Moore has confirmed that the Bulls are to remain a First Utility Super League side and will start the new season on zero points"[/i. Even ITV news website got in on the act before it was hastily revised... [url=https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Bradford+Bulls+have+avoided+the+threat+of+a+second+points+deduction+in+two+years+after+the+ongoing+saga+over+the+troubled+Super+League+club&meta=#hl=en&q=Bradford+Bulls+have+avoided+the+threat+of+a+second+points+deduction+in+two+years+after+the+ongoing+saga+over+the+troubled+Super+League+club"Bradford Bulls have avoided the threat of a second points deduction in two years after the ongoing saga over the troubled Super League club ..."[/url

Pretty disgraceful if true and very underhand by the RFL.
I feel sorry for clubs like WTW who have had to cut their cloth accordingly or face expulsion out of SL.
The fact that this is the second time in 2 years should incur at least an 8 points penalty.
Having said that I do feel sorry for the genuine Bulls fans who would have to suffer yet again.

I feel for the Bulls Fans and hope that a workable business model will be found. It can not be good for the future of top flight RL in the UK that so many SL clubs appear to be hanging on by their finger nails.

I find it an amazing coincidence that this was done the day after a record tv deal. Eamonn Mcmanus claimed yesterday that the tv deal would ensure all sl clubs can remain solvent.

It shouldn't matter how long a club is in administration for the fact of he matter is that the bulls were in administration before being sold. I do feel for the bulls fans but equally for wakey fans who must be seething.

IMO a points deduction is a must and a bar minimum of 8 points

Despite the maximum punishment being 6 points?

Is 6 points still the maximum even if you go bust 2 years running? If so it should double from the previous year.

Just a question but if the Bulls do get a points deduction can I change my prediction for this years finishing positions?

There should be a points deduction by the RFL, to do otherwise is just pure corruption... even more so when the RFL have a vested interest in SL team in Bradford playing out of a stadium they are leaseholder of!!!

If, as the ruse the RFL are clearly trying to hide behind, that all this is to do with is get rid of Khan then every single other creditor bar him should be paid in full, not negotiated settlements then it should be a 2 point deduction. This must of course include HMRC in FULL given OK Bulls are subject to WUP by HMRC... which the RFL appear to be ignoring... conveniently!!!

If they pay HMRC, even in a settlement agreement but to their satisfaction & a large percentage of other creditors on negotiated settlements then it should 4 points... like WTW.

Anything less should be a 6 point deduction, plain & simple.

Not to issue at least a 2 point deduction is just bent because it is grossly unfair on WTW & London who have cut their cloth to avoid this potential outcome, more so when WTW were told a pre-pack was fame over in SL.

This really smells... period!

It is a complete mess at Northern, how long will this lot of new owners last?. As far as I can remember they still have not made the 400,000 worth of savings they need to make. It is time the RFL carried out a full investigation into the goings on at Northern and bar the people who have put the club in such a mess from every running a rugby league club. This ploy about going into admin today has all the hall marks of what Ken Bates did at Leeds United when they got relegated, and at least the Football League saw through it and gave United a points deduction. I hope the RFL have the balls to do this, but I am not sure they do, otherwise other clubs will pull the same stunt.

The people I feel sorry for are the Northern supporters who have had to put up with such miss management of their club since 2004 or possible earlier. As I said earlier I think this story will run and run over the next few years until something is done.

Vanity ownership of sporting clubs - never ceases to amaze me how businessmen (its mainly men) can't resist the allure of putting money, their own money or others, into something that will never make a profit as long as its got a hole in its backside (or two), would they do that in any other business - possibly if that failing business had its own nylon shirt in garish colours and hordes of the public adored it so that the businessman could strut around his local area in savior mode.

Buy a season ticket FFS, its cheaper and you don't look like such a burk when your (and other peoples) money runs out.

As others have already stated this smacks of absolute corruption and deception: the RL is probably petrified of losing one of its 'top' clubs. Pity the Wakey supporters (and London)

wakefield and london have been shafted while the RFL once again turn a blind eye to goings on at odsal

The super league competition is an unfair league by it's very structure. Only to get worse in 2015 with the changes. No surprises in the RFL turning a blind eye with double standards, when it comes to more unfair dealings.