Bradford chairman Marc Green revealed yesterday that the Bulls have been placed into administration.

The Championship club faced a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs last month due to a tax dispute.

“I have been talking to a number of serious investors and purely the pressure from HMRC has forced the club to be put into this position to save its future,” Green said in a statement.

The Bulls were also put into administration in 2012 and 2014 and tax officials said at a hearing in a Bankruptcy and Companies Court in London last month that the club owes around £350,000.

However, Bradford bosses estimated the debt at nearer £133,000 — and barrister Rowena Page told a judge that more than £100,000 had already been paid.

Green said: “There is a dispute between ourselves and HMRC which we have been working hard to resolve since the winding-up petition was issued and, despite two adjournments from the courts to resolve this matter, we have been unable to do so.

“We were concerned over the ability to secure a third adjournment and therefore this action became unavoidable to protect the club.

“I will be working closely with the administrators over the coming weeks and it is my intention to regain this club from them within the shortest practicable timeframe.

“Regardless of whether I remain at the helm of this great club, I will ensure all memberships already purchased for next season will remain valid, as will the offer under which they were purchased. I believe the future of Bradford Bulls is still strong.”

Bradford finished fifth in the Championship last term, with only the top four sealing a place in the Qualifiers which gave clubs an opportunity to play in next season’s Super League.

An RFL spokesperson said: “We have been communicating closely with Bradford Bulls and we are aware of the decision to place the club into administration.

“It is undoubtedly a painful and uncertain time for supporters, players and employees.

“In these circumstances the RFL will always seek to support a club in difficulty for the sake of those directly affected and also on behalf of the chairmen and boards of well-managed clubs who deserve stability.

“Any decision regarding membership of the RFL and possible sporting sanctions will be made in due course and are at the discretion of the RFL Board.”