Bulls pair jump before the push

Bradford duo Peter Hood and Andrew Bennett have both stepped down from their positions at the beleaguered club with immediate effect.

Both men were expected to be removed later this month at an extraordinary general meeting summoned by former chairman Chris Caisley following a vote of no confidence but they have quit now to allow the club to find new investment. Hood has been on the board since 1999 and succeeded Caisley as chairman five years ago and it was he who made the announcement in March that the Bulls needed £1million to stay afloat. Half of that target was reached in two weeks in a major fund-raising exercise but shareholders lost faith in the pair's ability to negotiate a way through the cash troubles. Hood said: "Andrew Bennett and I have concluded that the interests of Bradford Bulls and its players, coaches and staff are best served by us making way for Mr Caisley and his cohorts now, rather than awaiting an EGM at which we are bound to be out-voted. "Chris has indicated to me and also to chief executive Ryan Duckett that he has investors waiting in the wings who are ready, willing and able to get on board but apparently they are not prepared to do so under the present regime."