Sky stipulate a minimum of 12 clubs and have a fixed number of games they want to televise in a season. 13 clubs would not undermine the contract.

Why does the RFL have to ok a deal anyway?

If a new bidder doesn't mention the words "conditional, licence or Odsal lease" then the RFL don't have any legal input into a procedure between the appointed administrators and a bidder- do they?

Yes I agree, that is very likely to be the case, but it would still be money lost to the game and money that they didn't (legally) need to spend.

If no-one comes in I'm sure the club would be revived in some form, but the company, which is what they are bidding for, would be dead and worthless, given that SLE clearly don't want to run it. This is why I think they knew that something was in the offing, otherwise they would have let the business be wound up and let the creditors take the hit. Otherwise it's either altruism of a high order or just that they wanted to preserve the good name of rugby league - though I suspect the good name in that sense died some time ago as a number of clubs have gone down the CVA/admin/winding up route over the years.

thought Rupert was a bit busy lately to worry who get's the money once it is given to the RFL.......LOL!!!!!!!

I'd guess that the administrator could sell the company to whoever he felt made the best offer to the creditors - in fact I also guess that is possibly his legal duty. If it were sold to an owner who would be unlikely to satisfy the RFL it would make running the business a bit risky as an investment though. I suppose Guilfoyle could just say it was a case of caveat emptor and just take the money, leaving the purchaser to stew.

Unless anyone knows different?

Might be a while if they're waiting for scoffer to polish off his snap.

The RFL decide who gets the SL Licence and what clubs can play in the competition. And receive Sky monies. That makes them the key player, because without their approval it is unlikely anyone would feel able to buy the club. And their due diligence legal advisor would scream at them not to.

so that rules out Iranian money laundering then.......

Although only in USA

None of us know the identity, but lets get the administrator out of the way.

RFL / SLE know who the bid is and will decide on that, dont forget they get a casting vote of the future of Bulls and wont want their noses pushed out after last weeks bid.

Therefore I propose a former sponsor of Super League who didn't extend their contract beyond the first year.

Cash rich, still want RL involvement etc, not sure if that impacts on Widnes though.

I am by all probababilty wrong but you never know

Well yes, probably because the CIA have an embargo on anyone else pushing into their market. IIRC, the CIA were [ireally[/i big buddies with Iran at one time, though I guess they've forgotten about when it was official policy to prop up a despotic regime in the country.

Btw, if I'm not on the board tomorrow, it's probably because I've had an early morning wake up call from the FBI.....

Mick's said the bidding consortium is from Keighley.

I sense impending meltdown...

[size=50Although Mick will probably retract that again, as soon as somebody comes along with better information.[/size

No offence intended to Mick, but very little people know anything about the new bid, including Mick.

I'd take anything mentioned on twitter with a pinch of salt - Mick already guessed it had Caisley involvement and had to retract it because it didn't. It's like putting your finger in the air and reporting a blatant guess.

I'd imagine Ross at the T&A, those close to the bid (including those at the RFL) and maybe a few other journalists with credible sources high up know about it and are holding off reporting anything.

That could take weeks.

I know Greenwoods Menswear are keen about a bid-think they are chinese owned now.

The farce has reached epic proportions. Everyone - and I mean everyone - KNOWS that NO buyer will buy unless they have a cast iron assurance that they take over the SL contract.

The very thought that someone out there might buy it on spec, immediately rush into signing up what players and staff remain, and take one almighty punt that we won't in fact be playing in the Championship, is just risible.

If there were a buyer or buyers interested in bidding on the basis that they want to run a Championship club, or aren't bothered either way, then that would be great, but as those people exist only in the figment of fevered imaginations, as do prospective buyers who would immediately start off by wasting £1.5m in cold blood, to pay off what were the old club's debts.

@andywiz: sounds like this latest bid for bulls might be a goer. it's unconditional apparently. more details to come.

Well let's hope a bid comes in which is acceptable to the RFL/SLE and makes the offer from the 13 clubs no longer needed. Actually you may be surprised but that is what most people throughout the game would prefer.

But there is no way the clubs would have made the bid if they were risking anything at all - most of them are too skint themselves. They'll get their money back either from a new buyer or dividing the SKY money 13 ways instead of 14.

If the administrator accepts the clubs offer and it's the only viable bid, that would leave a debt free championship Bradford available, for next to nothing I would imagine. Surely there would be plenty of people who love the club enough to be interested in that.

Caisley is hovering around somewhere that much is certain. He didn't force Hood out and then appoint Guilfoyle just so he could be a casual observer. But I feel he thought the RFL/SLE would be a soft touch and allow him to take on a debt free 'newco' with Super League licence intact.

The SLE bid has made sure Caisley cannot pull that one off and lets him and anyone else know that if they want to play brinkmanship then the Bulls can and will be allowed to drop into the championship.

It's amazing how some people have that ability to sum up a situation concisely and very succinctly.

@RobJonesSport RFL have confirmed they are seriously considering the first UNCONDITIONAL offer for the Bradford Bulls, more meetings over next few days

Rob Jones works for BBC Sport by the way.

Anyone noticed how Guilfoyle seems to have become largely irrelevant in all of this? Despite having become almost universally loathed and despised (fairly or unfairly).

Looks like he will end up having to accept whatever bid the RFL tell him to, since they control the one thing of real value - the SL Licence.

I very much doubt he expected this when he decided to do his mate a favour?

Fingers crossed.

I still can't envisage a situation where a solvent Bradford Bulls are playing outside Super League.

Adey is it just me or does guilfoyle not only appear invisible and beaten out of hiding but i feel for him he appears his partner and joint administrator is aken to an estranged wife they dont appear at family functions together they dont sleep in the same bed in fact since the beginning what has the other guy done?

what is time difference in aus? on rfl site it says due dilligence on bid has already been carried out by appropriate people ??