Redundancies made at crisis-club Bradford Bulls

THE chief executive and head coach of Super League club Bradford Bulls, and 13 other staff, have been made redundant.

Announcing the move at the club, which sees its entire coaching staff depart, administrator Brendan Guilfoyle said: “This is about survival. We have no cash and no funds have been offered. 

“It is with great regret that we have had to make these redundancies but there are no alternatives.  We are in discussion with the Rugby Football League and believe there will be funds to pay the players.”

Mr Guilfoyle confirmed that five administration staff have been retained to enable the Bulls’s home league match against London Broncos on Sunday to go ahead. 

Employees in the Lottery and the charitable Foundation which run at the club’s Odsal ground will continue to be employed as these are run as separate operations.

Mr Guilfoyle added: “We gave the club’s coach the option of working without payment but he declined.

 
“A number of people have approached us to help run and coach in the club without payment – we are now pursuing these offers as a matter of urgency.”

Ryan Duckett was the club’s chief executive and Mick Potter head coach.

The Rugby Football League said it was concerned by the move and was seeking a meeting with Mr Guilfoyle, of The P&A Partnership, to seek an explanation.
 
“The RFL is continuing to establish the facts behind this development and will not be making any further comment until we have spoken to all the parties involved,” said the RFL.

The Bulls went into administration last month after the club’s directors failed to raise the £1.2m they say was needed to see them through to the end of the season.
 
Bradford owed around £300,000 to the HM Revenue & Customs, who were poised to issue a winding-up petition.
 
Mr Guilfoyle has called for fresh investment to be made into the club but it has so far not materialised. He has warned the Odsal-based club could be liquidated.