looks like it was triggered by HMRC. If they went into admin before season starts then the minimum should be a 4 point penalty..

Could be heavier sanctions if they fail to honour any agreements with creditors, writing off debts again and then want RFL handouts (rent on Odsal been paid ??) is a complete farce

So the owner of Ok Bulls got paid? or does he still own the new bulls?

Fairly unlikely from reading the information released, but as the owner of Ok Bulls, Omar Khan, appointed the directors to run the club as they saw fit. It appears the best way they could see to keep the club going was to transfer the assets to another company. If Omar Khan is unhappy with this, legal action will undoubtedly follow.

Sounds like there is a massive conflict of interest if the board members are the same on both companies so yes i expect this to be the case

The RFL 'operational rules' on finance have rules in place to ensure teams comply with their HMRC Obligations. rflmedia.therfl.co.uk/docs/Secti ... inance.pdf Maybe the new Bulls board should be more worried about the 'Misconduct' charge from the RFL for failing to keep to these rules? That in itself will be a sanction prior to any points deduction for administration. Also, weren't the Bulls on a provisional licence or was that threat removed?

The RFL 'operational rules' on finance have rules in place to ensure teams comply with their HMRC Obligations. rflmedia.therfl.co.uk/docs/Secti ... inance.pdf Maybe the new Bulls board should be more worried about the 'Misconduct' charge from the RFL for failing to keep to these rules? That in itself will be a sanction prior to any points deduction for administration. Also, weren't the Bulls on a provisional licence or was that threat removed?

The new bulls don't owe anything right now do they? They were an asset transferred to another company, why assume they transferred all the liabilities too?

If not and all the liabilities were transferred and will be paid off, what exactly are we asking the bulls to be punished for? The admin was simply a measure to facilitate the share transfer on that case

Correct

Quote ="Wadski"The RFL 'operational rules' on finance have rules in place to ensure teams comply with their HMRC Obligations. rflmedia.therfl.co.uk/docs/Secti ... inance.pdf Maybe the new Bulls board should be more worried about the 'Misconduct' charge from the RFL for failing to keep to these rules? That in itself will be a sanction prior to any points deduction for administration. Also, weren't the Bulls on a provisional licence or was that threat removed?'" The provisional licence was made a full licence part way through last year. As far as I know there isn't any legal mechanism for one company to pay HMRC due for another company, so it's difficult to see how they could comply given the current ownership, even though they have stated they intend to work with creditors.

Quote ="Wadski"The RFL 'operational rules' on finance have rules in place to ensure teams comply with their HMRC Obligations. rflmedia.therfl.co.uk/docs/Secti ... inance.pdf Maybe the new Bulls board should be more worried about the 'Misconduct' charge from the RFL for failing to keep to these rules? That in itself will be a sanction prior to any points deduction for administration. Also, weren't the Bulls on a provisional licence or was that threat removed?'" The provisional licence was made a full licence part way through last year. As far as I know there isn't any legal mechanism for one company to pay HMRC due for another company, so it's difficult to see how they could comply given the current ownership, even though they have stated they intend to work with creditors.

Thanks childofthenorthern. The HMRC isn't someone to mess around with and as you say, it's not easy to pay someone else's bill.

If you can avoid a points deduction and start the season in zero ( as a retracted PA release has already stated) the only loser will be Omar Khan - how much has his 18 month attempt at running a Superleague club cost him?

On the bulls section of the message board, figures of 600k plus that he put in as loans are being mentioned. It's also worth pointing out that Bradford Council loaned Ok Bulls 200k and that's reported as being personally guaranteed by Omar Khan. Unless the Bulls are including the council as creditors then that would appear to fall on him as well.

Next "investors" peeerleeeeease step forward.....

This is the case in most administration situations.
Of course the new owners start with a clean slate, unless something else has been agreed with the administrators.
But, if this were ok, many clubs would go into admin and start a fresh.
Yes, this seemed to be a way of removing OK's shares and allowing a new start but, surely it's no different from ANY club going into admin, something which the RFL said that they wouldn't allow to happen.

It sounds like you are condoning the situation which, does come as something of a surprise

I can see a real Sh*tstorm brewing if the Bulls escape a points deduction and then avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth.

Lets not forget they are "iconic"

I'm not condoning the situation I'm questioning what's going on.

Fwiw I don't agree with the logic of punishing the new owners for the sins of the old ones. Omar Kahn isn't at. Bradford any more, any punishment to Bradford doesn't affect Omar Kahn. The punishment should be aimed at him.

Yep, give poor old Omar a six point deduction, he’ll be gutted

.

You are basically saying the newco should be absolved of any debt accrued by the old regime. But I’m sure that the RFL told Wakey last year that a flat pack was simply out of the question.

i think the points deduction punishment is used more as a warning to other clubs, than as a punishment to the club in question. It is far too easy for a club to go into administration, transfer all the playing contracts and start up again the next day, leaving a trail of debtors in their wake.

Perhaps knock off Nigel prefers his furniture to last a little longer than a few years.

With relegation starting this year the stakes are even higher

Lets not forget the rfl called the "ground" iconic when they aquired the sub lease to the ground that holds the British (and former world) record for attendance at a Rugby League match.

It's a difficult situation this. Unlike last time where we ran out of money, we have buyers READY to take over the club. Unfortunately the parties involved have been arguing. Been going on for so long that HMRC have stepped in, but OK Bulls Ltd in administration and allowed Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd to take over.

how long were the Bulls in "administration" for under OK Bulls Ltd. From what i can gather it was an almost instant take over.

I'm no expert on the subject so feel free to correct me. I can see other fans frustrations.

Doesn't really work as a warning though does it, Kahn isn't involved so he isn't being punished, whoever takes the next club to admin won't be involved when they are punished. What's the warning? If you take a club in to admin we will punish the next person who buys it? Who's that going to put off?

I wonder if they'll be known as Bradford Bulls 2015 next year

Given all the other clubs were given a "hands off their players" when they hit the skids last year by Red Hall they obviously think they are.

There's also cost cutting at Hull FC now that Pearson is a lot closer to getting hold of Leeds Utd so we could have another club in administration before too long when he throws in the towel and gives up his rugby league experiment as a bad job.

Wakefield, under the Richardsons, entered Administration during the off season. They were bought from the Administrator before the new season began (actualy on the eve of the first game) yet they were deducted 6 competition points, later reduced to 4pts because Andrew Glover paid of a significant amount of the previous regimes debt.

No matter how they dress this up or spin it, Bradford have entered into Administration and should be subject to the same sanctions as Wakefield were, ie 6pt deduction reduced to 4pts if they pay some debts off.

Furthermore, HMRC had served a winding up order on the Bradford Bulls and no amount of smoke screening can change that fact! This was not just a mechanism for a change of ownership, I for one will feel deceived and insulted if the RFL come out and try to sell that line!