Bradford Bulls running dispute with Hull took a new twist today with reports that Odsal centre Matt Calland was poised to join the Sharks on a two-year deal.
The Bulls were slammed by Hull recently after poaching their top teenage prospect Lee Radford before his contract at the Boulevard runs out in December.
But they hit back immediately today accusing the Sharks of "double standards" after hearing that 27-year-old Calland appears to have played his last game for the club.
"I find it astonishing, if the rumours are correct, that Hull have signed Matt Calland," said Bulls coach Matthew Elliott. "I would have thought in the light of their Chief Executive Mike Appleton's comments regarding Lee Radford, that they would surely have approached the club first particularly as Matt is under contract until the end of the year.
"They have obviously been talking to Matt for some time and, while they have not broken any rules, they have not acted with the degree of courtesy that I would expect from a club who are so keen to do things by the book.
"Personally I do not think that that Hull have done anything wrong but they are surely guilty of double standards by approaching our player. I am disappointed Matt will not be staying with us and sorry that we could not make an offer to match the one by Hull to keep him at Bradford."
Calland's position at Odsal was under threat following the capture of Salford duo Nathan McAvoy and Scott Naylor and the expected arrival of Aussie duo Nick Zisti and Michael Withers next season.
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