Simon Foster explains how the 'new' Bulls can bring back the glory days...

THERE is still hope for the Bulls

As we await a decision from the Rugby Football League for an announcement of possible new owners for the Bradford Bulls, it is with baited breath and understandable concern for the club's future.

It is 53 years since Bradford Northern were reformed and re-joined the Rugby League after falling on hard times in the early 60s.

The likes of my father Trevor Foster MBE, Joe Phillips and many other loyal supporters came to the rescue in those very dark days.

I well remember as a young schoolboy at the time, the sterling efforts that were made by a small group of willing people to resurrect the Northern.

My dad was away from home an awful lot for what seemed weeks and months of meetings, rallies, fund raising and player recruitment.

I still have in my possession the letter he sent to the RL pleading that the club be reinstated after the famous meeting held in St George`s Hall, where around a thousand pounds was raised to secure the club's future.

It all took its toll on his private life and I recall our local parish priest calling at our house very late one evening and asking him to stand down from the governing body of St Cuthbert`s school in Heaton for his non-attendance at a governors' meeting.

That hurt him a great deal because he was devoted to his church.

A lot of sacrifices were made during that period. However, a strong belief and the spirit of togetherness shone through and his hopes and prayers for the club were rewarded.

Trevor was the eternal optimist and an enthusiast for life and rugby league, and I would hope that these memories of him for those who knew him still live on as yet another very sad 'passage of play' surrounds this historic and famous club.

Whatever has gone on in recent years to the detriment of the club – and I believe the supporters in particular have been badly let down for far too long – has to be set aside for the time being.

No doubt in due course all will be revealed, and rightly so, but now is not the time for recrimination.

There is a need to work together more than ever as supporters and volunteers and to do all we can to ensure a successful future for the Bradford Bulls or its reinvention.

We all know however, that future success will depend largely on a new viable regime being installed and it providing the club with a planned and sustainable long-term future – and a strong and meaningful engagement with the long-suffering supporters.

We know there will be some huge challenges for any new owners, in particular to 'fix things up' for the start of the new season.

Trevor Foster was red amber and black through and through, (perhaps with a little more red in his veins coming from south Wales), but his simple message if he were around today as a supporters' champion would I am sure be very clear.

Have belief and faith that things will work out for the better, given time.

Let us see much more transparency and integrity at the club and build trust and partnership between the board and the fans. Let us restore some pride and passion. That is all I would ask.