Bulls lodge appeal against points deduction

Bradford have lodged an appeal against their six point deduction for entering administration.

The Bulls were handed the penalty in January 2014, and the appeal has been lodged on the grounds that the insolvency event arose solely as a result of force majeure, in that the administration occurred in circumstances that were unforeseeable and unavoidable.

It led to the club’s new board of directors walking out, although the Bulls have since been bought by Marc Green.

A Bulls statement said: “The notice of intention to appeal was lodged with the Rugby Football League, by former administrator David Wilson, however the appeal could not proceed until the ownership of the club was resolved.

“Following consultation with legal representatives, the new board have confirmed their intention to proceed with the appeal process and are now awaiting a hearing date.”

An independent Sporting Sanctions Appeal Panel, chaired by a qualified solicitor or barrister, has been specially convened by the RFL to deal with the case.

There are three possible outcomes – the deduction stands, it is reduced by a number of points, or that the deduction is removed completely.

After winning two of their opening three games of the season, the Bulls have remained on -2 points at the bottom of the Super League table following five successive defeats, the latest at home to Salford on Friday night.