Robin Kay, who is re-joining Bradford & Bingley in a new role of academy manager, will be in charge of the club's development squad as well.

The team, also known as the Barbarians, will play in a newly-formed Northern Clubs' A Team League next season.

Head coach Geoff Wappett, who will oversee all senior rugby at the club, said: "This will be a high-quality programme of games which will be challenging throughout the campaign.

"It will consist of ten clubs, including Otley, Wharfedale, Sedgley Park, Doncaster, Halifax, Cleckheaton and Nottingham."

Wappett added: "This is just the rugby challenge our players need as young players learn most effectively when they play with good players against good players on a regular basis, and if any of our players succeed on a regular basis against this level of opposition then we know they are ready to graduate to the senior league side.

"To play in this league the players need to be in good physical condition and be well organised, hence the introduction of Robin Kay, who will offer the quality preparation work that is needed.

"He has bags of experience, has worked at Roundhay, Morley, Bradford & Bingley and Bradford Salem and also lives in Bingley."

In addition to Wappett and Kay, two other people will have key roles at the club.

Nick Cummins will be Director of Rugby, while former first-team winger Peter Sutcliffe is concentrating on fitness work with both squads.

In his last match in Bees colours, Sutcliffe scored a try in their Powergen Intermediate Cup final victory at Twickenham in 2004, but he missed the whole of last season because of his work as a personal fitness instructor.

Wappett added: "Chris Fisher and Greg Robinson for example played in the senior squad last season and performed extremely well.

"They have the right sort of potential to be challenging, but having skill and talent in itself is insufficient. They also have to have a determination to succeed, and it is important that we get players with potential and develop these characteristics.

"The Barbarians will work alongside the senior squad and follow a similar programme of work to enable any of the players to graduate into the senior squad without any difficulties.

"The transitional player is really important - we want to be offering them a coaching programme that they don't feel they can get elsewhere and make them feel they belong to the club.

"There are no barriers at the Bees - the first and second team are both integral parts of the bigger programme - and if you are good enough you will be in."

But Wappett and others will also be keeping an eye on the club's purse strings.

He said: "Rugby is littered with examples of clubs that have over-stretched themselves.

"Being in the national leagues is one yardstick of success, but it is also important to have a third team and a fourth team.

"Yes, there will be a financial element to the club in all these programmes, but some of it will be fixed costs because we will put the coaches in place."