Orford suffered the shoulder injury at Murrayfield in May

Bradford Bulls' Australian scrum-half Matt Orford has asked to be released from the last two years of his deal.

Orford, 32, has been linked with a return to the NRL in his homeland but the Bulls had insisted he would see out his Odsal contract.

Bulls chairman Peter Hood said: "In the event that we agree to his release we shall retain his registration until compensation can be agreed."

Orford is currently in America recovering from shoulder surgery.

The former Melbourne and Manly half-back was the Bulls' marquee signing for 2010, agreeing a three-year deal.

606: DEBATE I'd rather he left so then we could get a replacement who wants to be here bull123

He returned home before the end of the season for his shoulder operation and has since been linked with moves back home to Canberra and Parramatta.

Earlier this month, Bulls chief executive Ryan Duckett insisted Orford would remain at Odsal for the remainder of his deal.

"When Matt went back home to have the operation he told us he was fully committed to the club," Duckett said.

"He is due back for training at the beginning of November."

But Orford's request means that he will not be joining up with new Bulls coach Mick Potter.

Hood added: "I will be speaking to Matt's manager next week when he returns to Australia from the United States.

"In the meantime we have granted Matt dispensation to remain where he is, which means he will not be reporting for pre-season training on Monday, 1 November as was originally planned into his injury rehabilitation schedule.

"Meanwhile, we remain focused on building a highly competitive squad for next season and beyond."

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