Widnes chairman in Bulls pledge

Widnes chairman Steve O’Connor has pledged £10,000 to boost the survival hopes of Super League rivals Bradford.

The beleaguered Bulls say they need £500,000 by next Friday in order to pay a looming tax bill and avoid the threat of administration.

O’Connor’s donation, out of his own pocket, helped take the total of pledges past the £100,000 mark inside the first 48 hours and closer to the £1million the club say they need by the end of April to guarantee their survival.

Bradford chairman Peter Hood said: “Steve rang me to offer his support for the situation we find ourselves in – but also to say he wanted to pledge an enormous sum of £10,000.

“Steve spoke eloquently at length about the rugby league community and how we are all in this together. He talked of the outstanding contribution that the Bradford Bulls have made to the game and he wants that to continue.

“His heartfelt and extremely generous contribution epitomises the response we have had from throughout the game.”

O’Connor this week revealed that he has had to plug a £400,000 shortfall in Widnes’ budget for the 2012 season.