RL: Manning still a Fax player for now, Bulls go into administration

Highly rated back rower Dane Manning remains a Halifax player, for now at least.

Championship rivals Batley Bulldogs announced they had signed Manning on Thursday night after the player, who spent two seasons at Mount Pleasant before joining Fax four years ago, refused to agree to the 10 per cent pay cut put forward as part of Fax’s close-season cost cutting programme.

Courier Sport understands Manning has agreed a two year deal with Batley and he was the notable absentee when Richard Marshall’s side returned to pre-season training on Thursday night.

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But with Fax still paying his wages - the proposed pay cut contracts agreed by his teammates and coach do not kick in until January 2017 in any case - there seems to be some horse trading still to be done before any deal is completed.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Bradford Bulls have entered administration again, with owner Marc Green attempting to stave off a potential HMRC winding up order.

It remains to be seen what the long term consequences will be for the Odsal outfit, who finished fifth in last season’s league programme.