A WELL-KNOWN actor and lifelong Bradford Bulls fan has said he is hoping for a “miracle” in the club’s bid to avoid relegation to Rugby League’s third tier.

Duncan Preston, 70, who has been watching the club, then known as Bradford Northern, since the age of three, said the team was “crying out for a leader” on the pitch, with the Bulls having lost their last nine games in a row.

The club now has 12 games left to save its season, and last week, the Telegraph & Argus joined the club and sponsor Provident to ‘Back the Bulls’ for the remaining six home games of the campaign in a bid to help roar the team to safety.

A newly-dedicated ‘Bradford Bulls – The Telegraph & Argus’ Facebook page has also been created to help keep fans up-to-date with the campaign’s progress and latest news, including competitions and special offers.

Mr Preston, who is best-known for his appearances in various television productions written by Victoria Wood and currently stars as Doug Potts in Emmerdale, said Oldham’s visit to Odsal tomorrow was a “must-win” game.

“We’ve got 12 games left, and I reckon we’ll have to win at least eight of them to stay up, so it’s not looking great,” he said.

“They just need a bit of guidance, the young lads are clearly giving their all, and Geoff’s (Toovey) effort has been amazing, he’s still there.

“We won’t give up until the last second, I just wish we could find a leader somewhere, that’s what we are crying out for.”

The Bulls suffered a painful defeat to Rochdale last Sunday, losing a 12-point lead in the opening stages to eventually go down 28-14.

Toovey’s side remain on minus two points, and the head coach admitted earlier this week that it was now “five minutes to midnight” in their bid to avoid relegation from the Kingstone Press Championship to League One.

“We’ll keep going, and hopefully a miracle will come, because that’s what we need,” said Mr Preston.

“If we had a team that just won a few games, the fans would take it, they have been so starved of success, but they still go.

“The mismanagement over the last few years has been awful, ever since Brian (Noble) left really.

“It is very disheartening sometimes, but we have to keep going, and we will.

“I’ll be there on Sunday, and hopefully it can be the game that turns things around.”