Fresh uncertainty over Bulls' future

Confusion surrounds the attempts to save Bradford Bulls after the Rugby Football League claimed no formal offer had been made for the club.

That conflicted with a statement issued by Brendan Guilfoyle, the joint administrator currently running the Super League club, in which he confirmed he had received a bid from a local group of businessmen known as the ABC consortium.

Guilfoyle met RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer and licensing director Blake Solly on Friday to update the governing body on the situation. A spokesman for the governing body said: "The RFL today held constructive talks with the administrator of Bradford Bulls at a meeting in Leeds and remain in dialogue with him over the future of the club."

He continued: "The administrator informed the RFL that he has not yet received a formal written offer for Bradford Bulls from any interested party but remains hopeful of an offer from would-be investors."

Guilfoyle was unavailable for comment.

On Thursday he said the offer received from the ABC consortium was subject to them being able to buy back from the RFL the lease to the Odsal Stadium and a guarantee that the Bulls will retain their Super League status.

Guilfoyle has until next Friday to find a buyer, although he has the option of a further extension of the deadline if he feels he can complete a deal.

Bradford were expecting to discover today how many points they are to be docked for going into administration but the RFL's board of directors decided any announcement would be premature while attempts are ongoing to save the club from liquidation.

Bradford are bracing themselves for a six-point deduction, the normal punishment for a breach of the game's insolvency regulations.

However, both Wakefield and Crusaders were docked four points when they entered administration on the eve of the 2011 season after the RFL directors took into account the new owners' willingness to pay off some of the debts to creditors.