Bradford Bulls administrator Brendan Guilfoyle is expecting a bid for the Super League club from the ABC consortium on Wednesday.
ABC consortium could move for Bradford on Wednesday
Bradford Bulls administrator Brendan Guilfoyle is expecting a bid for the Super League club from the ABC consortium on Wednesday.
The group of local businessmen have been in talks with both Guilfoyle and the Rugby Football League (RFL) for just over a week and are now in a position to make a formal offer.
Guilfoyle believes the ABC consortium are determined to gain control of the club, although he insists the RFL also need to give the deal the thumbs up.
Intent
"I'm expecting an offer (on Wednesday) from the ABC consortium," revealed Guilfoyle.
"Whether it is acceptable to me and the RFL remains to be seen.
"But they seem intent on buying the club and I'm hopeful."
However, the consortium's offer will be conditional on the club remaining in the Stobart Super League and buying back the lease to Odsal Stadium from the RFL, both of which remain potential stumbling blocks.
"It's never straightforward in sport," he continued.
"I will receive a conditional offer and then there will be an application for the Super League franchise to be transferred to a new company."
Administration
Bradford, the four-times Super League champions who have been in decline since 2005, went into administration last month after finding themselves unable to pay wages and running costs.
Guilfoyle made 16 full-time staff redundant in a major cost-cutting exercise, although most have since returned to work on a voluntary basis which enabled their last home game against London Broncos to go ahead.
The RFL advanced the club their latest instalment of money from the Sky television deal to enable Guilfoyle to pay the players' monthly wages before last weekend and to extend his deadline to find a buyer to July 27.
The Bulls, who sold the ground lease for around £1.25million to pay off debts in January, effectively forfeited the Super League licence they were awarded last July by going into administration.
The RFL are committed to ensuring the club continue in Super League to the end of the season but are unlikely to be able to guarantee they will keep their licence for 2013, with the remaining 13 Super League clubs having a say in the matter.
