IT was standing room only in the South Bank Stand at Odsal as fans eagerly awaited to hear from the Bulls hierarchy.

This season may have been yet another one to forget as the club slipped further away from their glorious Super League past after suffering relegation to the third tier.

But that did not put off the loyal faithful who turned up eager to find out what the Bulls plans are going forward.

No one denies that the club’s new owners Andrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe have had a mountain to climb in trying to ensure the new Bradford Bulls club found their feet in its first year after the wreckage of the old club going bust.

Starting in the Championship – which Chalmers insisted he had no say in – on a minus 12-point penalty with reduced central funding and having to scratch together a new squad in a matter of weeks has proved too difficult and led to relegation.

The task was not helped by an illness to Lowe just weeks after taking over, which led to him having to return home to New Zealand for surgery and he has remained in his homeland where he is still recovering.

And Chalmers believes the legal proceedings against the club – which include 14 current players among the claimants – for lost wages following administration and liquidation had a negative impact on the playing field.

But what some fans have wanted to see this season is more communication from the board and this forum was certainly a step in the right direction.

Chalmers admits he is not a big social media user in the mould of someone like Salford counterpart Marwan Koukash. But he wants to achieve ‘effective’ communication and his address to the fans and media was well received.

Chalmers believes the move to a hybrid full-time/part-time squad will give them more options regarding player recruitment and that the task of building for next season will be easier compared with this year’s, which had to be done at such short notice.

This autumn’s World Cup in Australia represents a good recruitment opportunity with players’ participation making them more eligible for visas. Chalmers admitted they would be ‘all over it like a rash’.

The club have used a dual-registration partnership with Widnes this season, with the Kiwi admitting the system was a necessary evil.

“We universally hate it,” said Chalmers. “But it was necessary in 2017 and we are assessing our options with Super League clubs in 2018.”

With a reserve team due to be set up next season and plans for an extended academy by 2020-21, it is clear that the club’s traditional strength of bringing on youth will remain a top priority.

Chalmers said: “It is potentially the single most important thing that you must retain and protect. If you are going to throw anything out, throw us out first. The academy must stay.

“Look at the number of players who have come through in the past, it’s fantastic. The most recent player transitioning into Super League is James Bentley.

“But we can make it better and there are smarter things we can do. We’ve got to ‘benchmark’ the southern hemisphere.

“We want to expand the number of players and have not just a tier one high performance academy but also roll out a category three component beneath it.”

Chalmers’ commitment to youth development received one of the biggest cheers of the night.

How these expansion plans will be funded remains to be seen. The annual rent paid for their Odsal base remains a burden and potentially lower crowds in League One won’t help, though some Bulls fans could get back on board if there is success on the field.

Chalmers insists the club will live within their means. With regards to Odsal, which he admits will need an upgrade or redevelopment somewhere down the line, he said: “You have to look at it as a facility. What are the ways you can generate revenue to offset those costs?

“When I think about sustainability, it is about all the opportunities and events that we can hold to generate funds to cover the costs and I think it is achievable.”

Season ticket prices are set to remain the same as this year, with the club setting a target of 3,000 sales. A membership programme for adults and kids will also be unveiled.

Chalmers said he was also in discussion for the club to become more closely aligned with the Bradford Bulls Foundation, insisting the club’s role in the community was important.

The hard work is only just starting for the Bulls new regime with plenty of tough challenges ahead. But fans left the forum in good heart at having been informed of plans for the way forward.

The one thing that remains uncertain is whether head coach Geoff Toovey will be at the club next season.

Reports in Australia have linked him with a move to take over as coach of NRL club Gold Coast Titans.

Toovey admits he is weighing up his options about whether to continue at Bulls beyond his contract which runs up to the end of November.

He said: “From day one, when Andrew and Graham rang me I was coming for a year. They wanted me to stay for quite a while longer but I am realist and thought I will definitely see one year and then play it from there.

“There are many things to weigh up and some personal things for me back home.

“The drive and ambition of the club is there and as Andrew has said it’s going to take a while to get there, you’re going to need patience.

“I need to consider those options and the time frame, the commitment that is necessary and the opportunities that I may or may not forego to stay here.”