Bradford Bulls have been put into liquidation after the club's administrator rejected a bid to save the club.

But the RFL have confirmed that nobody else will be taking their place in the Championship, so there will be no late reprieve for Whitehaven, who finished in the final relegation berth last season.

Talks have been taking place over the weekend to try to save the Bulls, who have been in administration since November 14.

A bid, which had the support of the Rugby Football League, was rejected last week by joint administrator Gary Pettit, and a new bid has been submitted by another interested party.

Players and support staff were told of the decision in a meeting at Odsal Stadium today.

General manager Stuart Duffy told BBC Radio Leeds: "The solicitor acting on behalf of the administrators has told everyone that the club has effectively ceased trading and will be liquidated.

"The Rugby Football League have said they have contingency plans in place and someone could buy the club from the liquidators but at the moment everybody has been made redundant. I'm hopeful something comes of this but in what league I don't know.

"Everyone is very disappointed because we were led to believe that things would come to a successful conclusion today. Nobody has been paid their wages for December and we had been hoping to be paid tomorrow so this is a bombshell.

"This is a nightmare for everybody involved."

The RFL issued a statement today which read: "The independent RFL Board has met to determine how the future of professional Rugby League in Bradford can move forward in 2017.

"While a number of alternatives were considered the Board were most mindful of the planning already undertaken by all other clubs in the competition structure, the season tickets already purchased and the players and staff who will now be seeking employment in and around the sport in 2017.

"Accordingly the Board has agreed that the wider interests of the sport is best satisfied if it offers a place in the Kingstone Press Championship to any new club in Bradford and that such a club start the 2017 season on minus twelve points.

"Any interested parties should contact the RFL directly.

"The RFL believes that Rugby League needs Bradford and that Bradford deserves a strong and stable professional club and will work with all interested parties to deliver that outcome."