But Bulls chief executive Gareth Davies was relaxed about their level of debt, revealing that the club planned to break even within three years.

"The simple fact is the vast majority of professional sport clubs have some sort of level of debt," Davies told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.

Despite winning Super League X, the Bulls lost about �520,000 in 2005.

Davies said the club's lack of a major benefactor was the main reason for the level of debt.

"Look at Chelsea - last week they announced millions of pounds of debt," he said.

"There's no one writing those big cheques for us, making things look better than they are. I talk about Roman Abramovich but there are various clubs in Super League that can butter things up in this way."

We want to be able to bring in the right person to invest in the club Bradford chief executive Gareth Davies

Davies said Bradford hoped to bring in a financial backer but could survive comfortably without one.

"I've just had a three-year plan approved by the board that will look at getting us to break even in that time," added Davies.

"In 2004, we lost �594,000, but in 2005 our accounts - which have yet to be confirmed - are looking at something like �520,000.

"I'm looking to reduce that to �300,00 this year, and all that assumes we don't even find a big-money man."