Bradford issue hands off warning to rivals

Bradford have issued a hands-off warning to their Super League rivals, insisting “no-one is for sale”.

The Bulls have reacted angrily to a statement released by Hull FC earlier today, which stated they were monitoring the situation around prop Garreth Carvell, who signed for the Bulls at the end of last season.

A club statement said: “We are shocked and disappointed by some of the comments made today regarding one of our players.

“To say we are baffled by talk that another club is ‘monitoring’ an ‘on-going contract situation’ would be an understatement.

“We can confirm that no form of deal has been sanctioned by the board of directors.

“Recent reports have and are continuing to cause major confusion and distress among our supporters, while undermining our efforts to re-build this club – with extremely limited resources.

“Agents and clubs need also to be mindful of the confusion and distress in which these kinds of approaches can cause for players and their families.

“We are operating with only half of the central funding provided for our Super League rivals and we have been through a very difficult time.

“Our message is very, very clear: Leave our team alone. No-one is for sale.”

The statement also stated that club directors and HR representatives are to meet with the Bulls squad in a bid to once again outline the players’ contractual position.

Carvell signed a two-year deal last year to join the club from Warrington.

He previously played for Hull between 2001 and 2008.