Aussie duo are handed first XIII numbers
LONDON businessman Richard Lamb has stepped up his efforts to form a new Bradford rugby league club.
The Rugby Football League says it has received around 10 serious expressions of interest in reviving the Bulls after the liquidation of the debt-ridden club by administrators on Tuesday.
The governing body has set a deadline of noon on Monday for bids and hopes its executive will be in a position to make a recommendation to the board by the end of next week.
Among the front-runners is expected to be former New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers, whose bid to buy the club before Christmas was approved by the RFL before being rejected by the administrators.
Lamb, who is chief executive of rugby union Championship club Rotherham, is another failed bidder who told Press Association Sport he intends to meet the deadline after speaking with RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer.
“I had a long chat to Ralph this morning and I’m waiting for some guidelines to be sent over,” Lamb said. “Then we can work out how we respond and what information they need. We’ve got until Monday lunchtime to respond.”
Lamb, who is fronting a consortium that also includes former Cronulla Sharks chief executive Damian Irvine, failed in attempts to bring the Bulls out of their last two administrations but believes starting afresh will give the four-time Super League champions the best chance of restoring their fortunes.
“While it is a very painful experience for everyone involved with the club, I think you can recalibrate the club now and actually it’s probably in the best place to go forward that it’s ever been,” Lamb said. “Successive administrations have had to take on structures that were already in place and I’m not sure that structure is fit for where the club is currently.” just six weeks to try and achieve that in.
“In the end it all came down to a Danny Brough drop goal and none of us want to be in that place again.
“However, we got the job done and now Rick can play the long game and try and plan out what he wants to happen for the club in future.
“Last season should prove to be game changing for the club and people will be working hard to be at their fittest.
“It is also stopping those little errors and the new side will need to be aware of this.
“Each year the game takes another step forward, and I do worry a bit that we are losing the characters and filling the field with very fit people who concentrate on not making mistakes.
“But hopefully we can match the intensity needed and go out and produce entertaining performances.”
Giants stars will be on stage in a special performance of Dick Whittington on Tuesday, January 10.
The Huddersfield Light Opera are putting on the pantomime at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, where they will be joined by Giants players Ryan Hinchcliffe, Ukuma Ta’ai, Oliver Roberts, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Kruise Leeming and Mikey Wood.
Tickets are on sale now from the John Smith’s Stadium ticket office with the prices: Category A £15 adults £12 concessions (U16 & 65+), Category B £13.50 adults £10 concessions, Category C £12.50 adults £10 concessions and Category D £7 adults £5 concessions.
Wheelchair access is available for the show, with entry available at £15 for adults and £12 for concessions, with free entry for carers. Tickets are only available by visiting the John Smith’s Stadium office or calling by 01484 484123.