Au Contraire
Mr Guilfoyle has always been, still is, and will remain in control until he decides who to sell to. He has a Court Order to that effect.
The final Bidders are now aware of what is required of them and exactly what they will receive. Due diligence will confirm that the bidders and seller are able to do what they say.

Then Guilfoyle will sell to the bidder who best meets the criteria of his legal responsibilities.

That is the theory.

The practice, though, is that it seems clear the RFL have determined who the suitable bidders are - by the simple expedient of controlling the one big thing the bidders need. And, I rather suspect, by determining just how much needs to be paid back to creditors to keep HMRC off the RFL's back, let alone because they can set rules - especially for rugby creditors.

Once the RFL have determined who gets a shot at it, they then tell Guilfoyle who they are prepared to accept.

Guilfoyle can accept that, or he can try and come up with an alternative that provides a better return to the creditors. And just how likely is he to be able to do that? Since he could not control the one big stick that could materially influence the outcome. IMO.

And remember he has no money to pay the players unless the RFL choose to advance him Skty monies, and no money to pay the coaching and support staff who are being partially-supported instead by the Bullbuilder Hardship Fund - which itself has benefited significantly from the generosity of some other clubs. So he really has sod all control ov er anything much, really, but a load of responsibility.

That, I think, is the point Bulliac is making, and if so it is a point to which I fully subscribe. I suspect Guilfoyle may well regret the day he ever agreed to "help out".

Well, except that the RFL control the value of the bids.

Guilfoyle has to get the best deal for the creditors, that's his job, but if the RFL decides that a bidder won't get a licence then their bid is worth nothing.

I'll change that to what what was said above...

My post is factual as where we are now.
My presumption was that any bidder at this stage of due diligence had already met the financial and administrative requirements of associated parties (RFL etc) and only the amount of contributions to the non-rugby creditor's fund was at issue.
Where two bidders have met all the conditions as above then the value of this contribution would be for Guilfoyle to decide.

So then, all being well, the new owner will pick up the keys on Friday afternoon and take up residence on Saturday, in time for the Hull match. That will leave zero time for any talks with anyone, players, staff, coaches, let alone any actual agreements/contracts, so I assume that the game will take place almost before the new owners have even had time to get their coats off, in which case presumably it will take place only through the continued goodwill - if only for 1 more day - of those kind people.

I suspect not.
Whist it may not have been the routine job he expected (or maybe promised) and not financially profitable for him (depends how you assess the actual cost of fees to what he finally receives), their is an upturn.

IF he can return the Bradford Bulls brand to Super League, playing at Odsal, keep the RFL licence, getting rid of at the least £1.5m of debts, retain all the player's contracts, retain the training facility and the Juniors, then he will have exceeded my pessimistic expectations

Brokering a deal between many parties with invested interests and above all finally selling the club as a going concern will be promoted by him as a significant professional achievement that will look damn good on his CV no matter what the intervening processes.

If rumours are to be believed - our super league status has already been discussed between the clubs. The new owner will be allowed to have the license transferred and the club will remain in super league. The voting stood at 12-1 for the Bulls to remain in Super League.

1 voted against us.

I shudder to think who that could have been.

It was probably quite close or maybe a Fartown.

I can't believe Wakey would vote for us. Some of their fans would spontaneously combust if they found out.

Only the Khan/Sutcliffe bid has been called in.
Announcement tomorrow.

I believe you but where did you find this out please?

Sutcliffe has just been interviewed on Boots n All. Seems his and khans bid is the one likely to be proceeded with.

Thanks