'Vultures' circle ailing Bradford Bulls
The crisis-torn club is back in the hands of administrators
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Your support makes all the difference.Bradford coach Francis Cummins has described the situation at the Bulls as "anarchy" and admits he is worried about losing more players to "vultures" following the collapse of the latest takeover plan.
The crisis-torn club is back in the hands of administrators after Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd, the company set up to take over from OK Bulls Ltd, withdrew its offer when the club were docked six Super League points on Tuesday.
Sunday's home game against London Broncos is not in doubt and the players were assured their monthly wages would be paid on time this week when they returned to training this morning.
Cummins, who was updated on the situation by the administrator, is confident his team can overcome the points deduction but fears their survival hopes could be scuppered by further departures. Two clubs will be relegated from Super League this year but Cummins distanced himself from former chairman Mark Moore's assertion that the points deduction means a drop into the Championship is "almost a certainty".
"I disagree with him on the football side, as long as I can keep the players I've got and there's options to bring in some young players on loan," Cummins said. "With the group of players I've got, I believe we're six points better off than some other teams. But we've got to be able to service the business. We've lost some players through this already and, if others are allowed to leave, then basically we're just being kept alive. We're just a life support to enable other clubs to function."
The Bulls lost new signing Garreth Carvell to Hull and Australian half-back Jarrod Sammut to Wakefield during the club's dip into administration last month and Cummins said illegal approaches are still being made to his players.
"There is stuff going on now," he said. "The vultures have been circling for months. It's been anarchy for months and it's still anarchy now because I've got people tapping up players."
µ Clubs have rejected a proposal by Salford owner Marwan Koukash to introduce a marquee player rule.
Only Wigan, Warrington, Leeds and Widnes, along with the Red Devils, supported Koukash's idea of making a high-profile signing exempt from the Super League salary cap.
PA
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