PAUL Sykes is backing the Bulls in their promotion push as he prepares to face his old club this weekend.

John Kear's men continue their pre-season build-up at Dewsbury on Sunday with a testimonial game for the former England international.

Sykes began his career at Odsal, having two spells with the Bulls, and admits he is sorry to see the club sink to League One level.

Yet he is confident they will climb straight back under Kear's command and said: "It's mad really, with everything that has gone on.

"But Bradford are a big club and with the right people giving their backing, I'm sure they'll get back to where they belong.

"John is a massive appointment for them. He's coached at England level before and has loads of experience.

"I know him pretty well and he will do great for that club. He's so passionate and will want to get them straight back."

Sykes came through the Bulls academy in 1999 but found opportunities limited in Brian Noble's all-conquering squad. Steve McNamara brought him back to Odsal in September 2007 and he played over 100 games in five years.

Now 36, Sykes said: "It seems a long time ago when I started. The Bulls were a world-class team and I was on the fringes.

"I played a bit and made my presence felt but obviously getting game time was hard. So that's when the opportunity to go and play at London arose.

"But when I came back, we made the play-offs in the first year. That was a good season for me because I got into the World Cup squad. From then on though, it went a little bit downhill.

"Last year must have been hard for Bradford if you've got a (points) penalty of such a size. I would have thought that was in the back of the mind all the time for the club and the fans.

"They didn't have as much money to spend and had to bring young kids in – but that experience will have been good for them.

"Going into League One this year, those young ones who had been playing will be far better for it. They should find it a lot easier."

As he prepares to mark his long career in the game, Sykes believes he still has plenty to offer the Rams in the Championship this year.

He said: "Age is just a number. As long as the body is all right and I feel I'm playing well, then I'll keep carrying on.

"It's good to be playing in my home-town team and I couldn't have picked a better game for a testimonial than against my first professional club. I'm really thankful to Bradford for doing it.

"It's always a good crowd playing the Bulls because they have such a big fanbase and following. It will be strange not playing them in the league.

"But I always look out for the scores and want them to do well, being my first club. I hope they come straight back up."