PARK Avenue owner Gareth Roberts is in the race to rescue the Bulls.

The multi-millionaire Bradford oil tycoon is one of the parties looking to buy the financially-hit club, sources have told the Telegraph & Argus.

Administrator Gary Pettit has said that negotiations have reached the “nitty-gritty” stage with four bids – and described two of them as “promising”.

Businessman Richard Lamb, who made an unsuccessful offer when the Bulls were last in administration in 2014, and former Cronulla Sharks chief executive Damian Irvine are also understood to be among those in contention.

Roberts, who grew up in Holme Wood, made his fortune in the oil and gas industry in America and lives in Dallas.

The 60-year-old bought his boyhood club Avenue in January 2015 and flies to England “three or four” times a year.

He was back in Bradford last week and is believed to have held talks with the council regarding the future of Horsfall Stadium.

Roberts has pumped money into Avenue but wants to leave a legacy for the future as a self-sufficient community club. Under his ownership, they have set up a new academy and there are big plans to develop the ground.

He is due to return to England again at the end of next month for Avenue’s community benefit society annual meeting.

There has been frequent talk of a link with Avenue and the Bulls – and news of Roberts’ interest will lift fans who are becoming increasingly anxious as the administration period stretches into a fifth week.

Pettit’s optimism for a swift resolution is not matched by Odsal supporters. There are also thought to be concerns within some of the interested parties about the process.

Creditors owed money by the club must still vote on whether to accept the winning bid.

But any deal promising to pay them back in the shortest time is more likely to be of the speculative property-based variety and would not necessarily be the best for safeguarding rugby league in Bradford.