Bradford Bulls were in turmoil on Tuesday when the directors quit just minutes after the club were docked six Super League points for going into administration.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) imposed the sanctions after the Bulls breached the game’s insolvency regulations for the second time in 12 months.
That announcement was due to be made at 10am on Wednesday (9pm AEDT) but was brought forward when it became clear that Bradford’s directors – and prospective formal owners – were set to pull out of the club in protest.
Bulls chairman Mark Moore duly confirmed that Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd – the holding company whose bid to buy the club from the administrator was accepted last week – had withdrawn its offer.
In a statement, Moore said: “It is with great sadness and frustration that we have been led to this point.
“I believe that we have been forced into making this decision, due to the Rugby Football League’s proposed sanction of a six-point deduction, making relegation almost a certainty.”
In July 2012, the club were deducted six points, which ultimately cost them a berth in the end-of-season playoffs as they finished three points behind eighth-placed Wakefield.
This time, the sanctions could cost Bradford their place in Super League, with two clubs to be relegated at the end of this season.
A statement issued by the RFL governing body said: “The RFL board of directors has today ruled that Bradford Bulls will be deducted six points – the equivalent of three competition wins – as a penalty for entering into administration in January 2014.
“The board’s decision follows a full assessment of the circumstances surrounding the club’s administration, which followed a similar insolvency event by Bradford Bulls in June 2012.
“The points will be deducted with immediate effect.”
Bradford won their first match of the season at Wakefield last Thursday after opening with a home defeat to Castleford and so will go into Sunday’s match against London Broncos on minus four points.
Wakefield and Crusaders were both docked four points on the eve of the 2011 season for going into administration after the RFL took into account their willingness to pay off some of the creditors.
On this occasion, the RFL appears have taken into account the Bulls’ previous record.
Bradford have never been out of the top flight since the switch to summer rugby and were Super League champions four times in the first 10 years.
The triple World Club Challenge champions reached the grand final five years in a row up to 2005, when the rot set in.
Tuesday’s announcement leaves coach Francis Cummins with an enormous task in only his second season in charge if the club are to preserve their Super League status.