Former Bulls chief executive Ryan Duckett has revealed he recently turned down an opportunity to return to the club.

Duckett was among a number of staff made redundant by administrator Brendan Guilfoyle in July 2012, which ended his long association at Odsal.

The 37-year-old began working for the Bulls in 1996 in a part-time role and spent almost 15 years at the club on a full-time basis, working his way through the ranks to become chief executive in 2007.

After Omar Khan took over the club in September 2012, Duckett offered his services to the then Bulls owner – only to be told that Khan wanted his own men running the club.

Duckett has since taken up a senior position as director of partnerships at Derbyshire County Cricket Club and, although the Bulls remain close to his heart, he decided not to accept the club’s recent job offer.

The invitation came on the back of Ryan Whitcut’s departure from the club and led to a meeting with current Bulls chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul and directors Mark Moore and Andrew Calvert.

Duckett, who also served as chairman of the Bradford Bulls Foundation for over six years, said: “When Omar Khan took Bradford Bulls out of administration, I offered to return – but it was clear that Mr Khan wanted his own people in senior positions.

“Following the departure of Ryan Whitcut, the new board of directors invited me to rejoin the club.

“I spoke with Robbie, Mark Moore and Andrew Calvert and I am convinced they all have the club at heart and are committed to delivering a sustainable model.

“Having worked at the club for almost 15 years, it was obviously a difficult decision not to take up the offer. But I am fully committed to my responsibilities with Derbyshire.”

The Bulls’ current board of directors had spoken of their intention to appoint a replacement for Whitcut in a similar general manager role.

Yet following the recent raft of redundancies made by the club, it now seems unlikely that any such appointment will be made.

Duckett, who remains an ardent Bulls supporter, is hoping the club can negotiate a way through their latest financial difficulties.

He said: “The club have a tremendous hard-core support and I hope other supporters and key stakeholders from right across the Bradford district will get behind the new regime over the next year in whatever way they can.”