ANDREW Chalmers is under no illusions that earning promotion back to the second tier will be straightforward.

The Bulls co-owner accepts the former world champions will be seen as the major scalp in League One next season and every club will raise their game against them.

New club Toronto Wolfpack, who are the only full-time team in the bottom division, have been the side to beat this year.

While they remain on course for the title, promotion is not yet guaranteed as they only lead Barrow by two points after a defeat to York City Knights and a draw with Keighley Cougars in the Super Eights.

Chalmers remains confident the Bulls, who are switching to a mix of full-time and part-time players, can assemble a squad who will be up to the challenge.

Yet he said: "It's not going to be easy in League One. Clubs will come with weapons drawn. Nobody said it would be easy.

"Toronto are finding out just how difficult that can be. We know when players and clubs are put into that position (as underdogs) they grow an extra leg and it becomes really tough.

"We don't expect it to be a walkover and we'll treat every match that way. We know from having played Keighley in pre-season (beating the Bulls 25-24) what they can be like."

Bradford will start on a level playing field next year, having kicked off on minus-12 points this season with reduced RFL funding following the old club's liquidation.

It was claimed at the club's media briefing last week that they would receive £150,000 for finishing bottom of the Championship.

But it is understood the Bulls and the other relegated team from the second tier will receive the same central funding as all other League One clubs next season. This year, that sum was £75,000.