Bradford Bulls boss Chris Caisley wants a local TV Super League blackout to force fans to attend their games.

The Bulls' chairman said he fears for the future of rugby league due to a growing legion of armchair fans and now wants Sky TV to block its subscribers in the Bradford area from watching live Bulls games.

Mr Caisley claims the black-out approach works well in America, with fans flocking to their hometown games for various sports.

And today he said if he couldn't secure a blackout he was even prepared to opt out of future Sky TV deals to ensure bigger crowds, even though he helped broker the original deal with Sky when chairman of the Super League.

"Something needs to change because not enough people are going to watch rugby league games live," said Mr Caisley,

"We have to look into American style blackouts to encourage fans to go to the matches. A lot of people just watch it in pubs or at home.

"There is a lot of good exposure for rugby league on television - the deal I helped broker includes France, Switzerland and the Southern Hemisphere.

"But we cannot allow live attendances to be affected - empty seats make bad television.

"We offer a sensational product. You can't put a price on that. The thrill of live sport is unrivalled and it would be a shame if television were to affect that."

And he even took a side-swipe at the stay away fans.

"Those fans who are staying away from Valley Parade are only harming the club and ultimately themselves.

"The players, who have taken us to the top of the Super League, deserve to be playing in front of big crowds."

But a Sky TV spokesman said the TV deal was good business for the Bulls - and Super League as a whole.

"The current deal with Super League benefits us, them and rugby league in general. Viewing figures are up this season," the spokesman said.

He was unsure whether the technology was available to allow partial blackouts of its viewing audience.

And some Bulls fans believe Mr Caisley's plan is a non-starter.

Gary and Mandy Harmer, who run the Drop Kick pub in Odsal, believe they would lose a "hell of a lot of trade" if the club banned live match screenings.

Gary said: "We normally get a good crowd in for the matches. It would not be fair for them to take this business away from us when we pay a small fortune to put on Sky Sports.

"Many people prefer to watch matches here rather than trek over to Valley Parade, find a car parking space and pay the entrance fees which are too high when they believe their home ground is in Odsal anyway.

"I also think it will backfire on them because people would snub the club altogether."

And Sam Grundy, media officer for the Bradford Independent Supporters' Association believed that the main reason for low attendances was the venue.

"If they were to move back to Odsal they would find their numbers were a lot better," he said. "The bedrock of support has dropped off since they moved grounds.

"Many people find it hard to get to matches on Friday evenings after work, especially the away fans. It is easier to watch it on Sky."

Erik Brady, a sports reporter at USA Today newspaper, said blackouts had worked well in America for many years.

"Over here, networks have been black-outing coverage of major sports for more than 30 years," he said.

"In the NFL, for example, the blackout will only be lifted if the match is sold out 72 hours before kick-off.

"The clubs insisted on this as part of major TV deals as a way of protecting crowds. Live sport is what it is all about."

Today Mr Caisley suggested that when the Sky contract is up at the end of next season, he may not commit the Bulls to a collective bargaining agreement.

"We would have to look at the possibility of protecting the club," said Mr Caisley cautiously.

"Super League clubs are also a collection of individual businesses and we would have to consider our options very carefully."

Mr Caisley believes that Super League should be looking to achieve attendances of no less than 10,000 for every game, with more than 20,000 for the big games.

"We have two big clashes coming up against Castleford and Leeds and we would like to think there will be big crowds," he added.