Caisley believes league is worth more than in 1998

Bradford Bulls chairman Chris Caisley has revealed his club are prepared to negotiate a separate TV deal.

The current Super League contract with BSkyB runs out at the end of the season and the Rugby Football League have begun renewal discussions with the satellite broadcaster.

Caisley, a former Super League chairman who helped negotiate the deal that earned clubs �45m in 1998, says they are expecting an increased offer.

But he warned that if the price is not right, the Bulls and other leading clubs would consider going it alone.

"We know what our sport is worth as a television spectacle," he said. "The value has risen since we did the last deal.

The product is better than ever and we are expecting a fair price Chris Caisley

"Having spoken to a number of clubs, I think the position would be, if we felt it was an unfair price, clearly we wouldn't do the deal.

"We would have to look at other options.

"If we have to go it alone in our negotiations for TV rights, both for satellite and terrestrial television, then we will have to do that.

"I wouldn't call it a threat - it's something that is always open to individual clubs."

Although TV cash for football rights is falling rather than rising, Caisley believes rugby league will go into the talks with a strong case.

"The original football deals were struck at inflationary prices and now they are falling to their true value," he claimed.

"But it is the other way round in rugby league. The product is better than ever and we are expecting a fair price from Sky this time around.

"We have hired an agent to do the negotiations and we are expecting added value."