Bradford Bulls: Fallen giants set for new Super League chapter

The sheer drop from one of the game’s major players to a side rebuilt in the bottom tier has taken some of the edge away from Bradford’s claim to be a powerhouse.

It had an effect on the fanbase, the type of player they were able to recruit, and their sway with investors.

However, any fears of the Bulls sliding back into their prior demise have been allayed thanks to the investment of a passionate board, and the club-at-heart mentality of chief executive and hometown fan Jason Hirst.

Their Foundation carries the important role of spreading the sport to a new audience, while partnerships with amateur clubs in the area is also a vital way of establishing links with the community.

Off the field, Bulls have consistently turned a profit in recent seasons, while on it there has been careful rebuilding by a string of coaches starting with John Kear who brought them back from the League One doldrums and restored pride at Odsal, and Mark Dunning also maintained the upward curve.

Up until the end of this season, Brian Noble was brought in, after highly-rated Eamon O’Carroll was snared by St Helens to join their staff, and his legacy as a Bradford legend has helped restore some of the DNA, that passion and professionalism.

Now the reins are to be entrusted to another excellent young coach in Kurt Haggerty, who served his apprenticeship at Toronto, Leigh and Salford before taking this top job.

If ‘franchising’ via grading is the way to go in climbing up the pyramid, Bradford have carefully ensured they ticked the boxes to achieve it.