Bradford Bulls chairman Chris Caisley has called on the Rugby Football League to look outside the game to appoint a new chief executive.

Neil Tunnicliffe walked out of the role on Tuesday citing internal politics as the reason for his departure and now the RFL are on the lookout for a replacement to take over in time for the World Cup in October.

But Caisley claimed there was no natural successor within Rugby League circles.

"I don't think there's an outstanding candidate inside the game at the moment," he said.

"Good sports administrators are not falling off trees at the moment and it's going to be difficult to find someone who can enter the job quickly because anyone worth their salt will probably have to give their current employers plenty of notice which would take you up to the verge of the World Cup.

"So a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the people currently looking after the situation."

The League's six associate directors, headed by deputy chief executive Dave Callag-han, have been handed the day-today administration and the position will be discussed by the board ahead of today's RFL Council meeting in Salford.

Should the RFL decide to appoint from within then former Wigan and Great Britain star Joe Lydon, currently the league's performance director, has been suggested as a strong candidate.

Caisley added: "With the movements of certain responsibilities to Super League the RFL is now a service provider, supplying referees, touch judges and all the things needed to enable games to take place.

"So I think you need someone who's a good organiser, manager of people and undoubtedly someone with a financial brain."

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