New owners officially announced weeks after Bradford Bulls’ liquidation

Earlier this week it was reported that a new rugby league club will be launched in Bradford after a deal was struck with the Rugby Football League.

This announcement comes only weeks after former Super League champions Bradford Bulls were liquidated due to financial issues.

Andrew Chalmers, former chairman of New Zealand Rugby League and former director at Salford Red Devils, was believed to be the man behind the new deal.

Now, Mr Chalmers and Graham Lowe have been announced as the owners of Bradford’s new professional rugby league team via a joint statement.

The duo, who only arrived late yesterday from New Zealand, have already met a 25 strong playing group, interim management and coaching staff.

Andrew Chalmers, said: “I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to create what we hope will be a strong and stable club in Bradford. The history and tradition of Rugby League in this great city is something we are both very aware of.

“We are under no illusion of the enormity of the task that is ahead of us and that it is our job to win the trust of supporters and deliver a club that they are proud of. One of our first commitments to the RFL was that all season tickets for the 2017 season that have already been purchased by Bradford Bulls supporters would be honoured by the new club.”

In addressing the players and coaching staff on Monday, Graham Lowe, said: “We do not see this as a quick fix and we will work through the immediate issue of offering full-time playing contracts to the team.

“This is expected to be accomplished in the next 48 hours and following that we will look at bolstering the playing squad as necessary to replace those players who have secured contracts elsewhere.”

The new club is expected to start in the Kingstone Press Championship with a 12-point deduction.

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