One of the men who declared an early interest in taking over crisis-stricken Championship side Bradford Bulls has hit out at the RFL for keeping potential new owners in the dark about the club’s future.
Former Bradford City chairman Mark Lawn was initially in the early running to buy the Bulls, but later pulled out.
However, in a damning interview with the Telegraph and Argus, Lawn said that with the RFL need to be more open and tell potential new owners exactly what they are trying to deal with at the Bulls.
“I don’t think the administrator really knows what he is doing. The RFL certainly doesn’t,” he said.
“The Rugby League have got to tell you what you are dealing with – at the moment you don’t what division the club will be in or the points deduction.
“Then people can reassess and decide ‘do I have enough money to put the right business plan together’?
“That’s why the club keeping going into admin because the RFL won’t let people know exactly what’s going to happen.”
And Lawn has warned that unless around £2m is invested by any new owner, liquidation may be a realistic option – one Lawn has calmed talk on.
“Unless someone’s going to put in £2m just to keep them going to next year with the overheads they have at present, then for me you have to liquidate it and start afresh,” he said.
“But I don’t know whether anybody would want to do that. It sounds awful but that’s the way to start with a fresh sheet and go again with the fans right behind you. Look at what Rangers did in Scotland.
“At least you’ll know where you stand and how much money you’ve got to play with and the crowds you’ll get.”
