Chairman Peter Hood Set to Quit Bradford Bulls

Bradford Bulls Chairman Peter Hood is preparing to quit the beleaguered Super League club after calls for his resignation.

Hood, allergist who last month launched the club’s desperate appeal for £1million to save them from bankruptcy, has been at the helm for six years and spent 18 years on the board.

But he is facing a vote of no confidence from his predecessor Chris Caisley at an extraordinary general meeting next month and has already accepted his fate.

“For a handful of shareholders in Bradford Bulls Holdings led by former chairman Chris Caisley, who between them hold slightly in excess of 50% of the company’s share capital, have given notice that they intend to vote myself and Andrew Bennett out of office at an extraordinary general meeting called for next month,” Hood said.

“From my personal perspective, it has been an honour to have served the club for more than 18 years in total since 1989.”

Co-director Andrew Bennett, who claimed last month that the Bulls were “at death’s door”, is also set to be voted out of office at the egm called by Caisley, who remains Bradford’s major shareholder despite stepping down as chairman in 2006.

Writing in his matchday programme column for yesterday’s 20-6 defeat to Huddersfield, Hood added: “I anticipate this being my last contribution to a Bradford Bulls programme.

“I shall take with me many fond memories – for colleagues past and present, for friends made across the rugby league community, for famous victories and infamous defeats.

“There has been speculation that Mr Caisley and his cohorts may be in a position to introduce new funding into the club.

“If that proves to be the case, it is to be greatly welcomed and applauded for, as we know, the role of moneymen these days is central to sporting success.

“Neither I nor Andrew Bennett would wish to be an impediment to that.”

by Ismail Uddin