Championship

Super League signings offered to Bradford Bulls as Odsal rebuild begins

by
Callum Walker
August 2, 2022

Bradford Bulls’ historic achievements in the Super League and Challenge Cup will be forever remembered.

Unfortunately, the last few years have seen a steady decline on and off the field at Odsal.

Whilst on it, results see them sit outside the Championship play-offs well into the second half of the season, off it, chairman Nigel Wood had to deal with fan concerns at the recent fans’ forum about the direction that the club is heading.

That being said Bradford, just one of four teams to ever win the Super League Grand Final, still have the magic essence that makes players want to move to Odsal, as head coach Mark Dunning has revealed.

“We call it silly season and any player near the end of their contract, their agents are looking to fix them up for next year,” Dunning told the Telegraph and Argus.

“I’ve spoken to every agent in game and there’s no shortage of offers for players to come here.

“I will keep names confidential, but an agent from France rang this morning, and one from Australia last night, both offering ex-Super League players to come to the club for next year.

“So there are still Super League quality players who want to come here.”

And, with plans in the pipeline to bring the Bradford stadium, Odsal, into modern times, it could actually be an exciting time to be a Bulls fan in some respects.

There are now plans to develop an Odsal Sports City Complex, effectively creating an incredibly modern facility and giving Bradford the foundations necessary to thrive as a club once more.

At the fans’ forum, Nigel Wood – chairman of the Bulls and former CEO of the RFL – said “Odsal has held the club back over a number of years. We’re trying to do something with the stadium and make it a priority.

“We are working with local and national politicians to make to try and make this happen.

“There’s an initiative to develop the South Bradford corridor to make a modern facility. It’s a 2/1 shot it will come off as not everybody who applies for Levelling Up funding will get it, it has to be based on the impact in the local economy and everything the club stands for.”