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Bradford Bulls 'at death's door'

Bradford Bulls are in grave financial danger © PA Photos

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Bradford Bulls face a race against time to raise enough funds to save the Super League club from going bust.

The three-time World Club Challenge champions, who have struggled financially in recent seasons, need to raise £1 million, and at least £500,000 within the next few weeks if they are to survive beyond the end of April.

As it stands, the Bulls' derby clash with Leeds Rhinos on April 6 could be their last game at the Odsal Stadium.

It comes after the Royal Bank of Scotland informed the club their overdraft facility had been significantly reduced - after paying off their long-term liabilities with the money from the sale-lease of Odsal to the Rugby Football League.

"We're at death's door," director Andrew Bennett told the Telegraph and Argus. "We can stay alive for about two-and-a-half weeks. We could just about, at this moment in time, put the Leeds game on. But that could be the last-ever game at Odsal unless money comes in quickly."

"I don't think the situation could be more critical," added chairman Peter Hood. "Without the oxygen of cash in our bloodstream we cannot operate. We've got to generate a significant sum to survive and we're doing everything we can to achieve that.

"If we haven't got cash then we can't stay alive and if we can't stay alive then we can't fulfil our fixtures. It's that serious."

A statement on the club website appealed for fans' help: "We've been battling serious financial issues for many years, but with no playoff football for the last three seasons, the biggest and deepest recession this country has experienced in living memory, sponsorship income increasingly difficult to come by - indeed dropping to an all time low - and our bankers' lack of ongoing support, we have almost reached the end of the line.

"Unlike the majority of other Super League Clubs, we have no wealthy benefactor - every penny of income comes from the hard work of the team at Odsal - and the dedication and unrelenting support of [our fans]."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.