Lowe link in bid to save Bulls

Former Kiwis coach and New Zealand league identity Graham Lowe is believed to be part of the group confirmed to return liquidated English club Bradford Bulls to the field in 2017.

Five-time Challenge Cup champions and 2005 Super League winners Bradford, who have played the past two years in the secondtier Championship competition, entered administration for the third time in four years in November and early this month were officially put into liquidation.

BBC Sport reported four bids were received by governing body The Rugby Football League (RFL) to revive the club.

Although the successful group is not likely to be revealed until next week, it was understood the consortium with the winning bid was headed former New Zealand Rugby chairman Andrew Chalmers and also featuring Lowe.

Chalmers is a former director at Super League club Salford while Lowe coached English powerhouse Wigan during the late 1980s.

The group almost got the Bulls out of administration prior to Christmas when their bid was approved by the RL before being rejected by the administrator, BBC Sport reported.

‘‘The RFL is confident that the consortium selected to run a new club in Bradford will provide an exciting and stable future for rugby league in the city,’’ RFL director of operations and legal, Karen Moorhouse, said.

Bradford are expected to remain in the Championship, although they will start the new season next month with a 12-point deficit.

The club was first placed into administration in early 2012.