IT IS well documented that a chronic lack of squad depth proved the Bulls' undoing in 2014.

After a long-running ownership saga led to administration (and then relegation), key men jumped ship.

Francis Cummins was forced to beg, steal and borrow players and at times struggled to send out a competitive team.

When Huddersfield arrived at Odsal in March, Bradford went into the game with only one senior recognised prop. Thus it came as no real surprise when the Giants marched to a 66-18 victory.

Heading into next season, however, Jimmy Lowes will face a problem that Cummins could only dream of – a large group of players with strong competition right across the board.

There is finally a sense of calm and stability (a foreign concept throughout last winter) which augurs well for the challenge ahead.

Thirty men will seek to impress Lowes and cement a place in his plans ahead of a massive season in the Championship.

Chairman Marc Green urged fans at the recent 'An Evening with the Bulls' event to applaud managing director Steve Ferres for putting the squad together so swiftly.

Crucially, Lowes' men will begin their first phase of pre-season training next month with the squad already complete.

The group appears to have been moulded in Lowes' own image; tough, uncompromising and with a touch of class.

At full back, Jake Mullaney is a straight replacement for Brett Kearney and offers versatility in the halves as well as goal-kicking skills.

Lowes could have offered new deals to Elliot Kear, Jamie Foster and Luke George. He did not. Instead, he made Danny Williams his first signing, initially on loan, before tieing him up permanently for next season's promotion challenge.

Etu Uiasele, who knows his way around the Championship, seems certain to line up on the opposite wing.

Adrian Purtell and Matty Blythe might appear the obvious choices in the centres but do not rule out Adam Henry.

New recruits Ryan Shaw and Chris Ulugia are both capable of playing full back, centre or wing.

There is little debate about Lee Gaskell and former Wakefield scrum half Harry Siejka as the first-choice half-back pairing.

Adam Brook, highly regarded at Odsal, turned 20 recently and will be expected to challenge for a spot too.

Adam O'Brien played 80 minutes on several occasions after Lowes was appointed and helped to orchestrate three successive wins.

He is clearly the first-choice hooker and is even being talked of as a potential captain following the retirement of Matt Diskin and the departure of Luke Gale.

Nathan Conroy's talent is obvious and the local lad will compete with new signing Vila Halafihi for a place in Lowes' match-day 17.

When it comes to picking two prop forwards and a back row, the Bulls coach really will have his work cut out.

Adam Sidlow has been a mainstay for the past two seasons but five new props will now arrive.

Paul Clough's pedigree is proven following his progression through the ranks at St Helens.

Dan Fleming has seen his progress slowed by injuries but is highly regarded by many at Castleford.

Mark Offerdahl is renowned for his outstanding fitness levels and likes to play big minutes.

Aussie Karl Davies is something of an unknown quantity but the man nicknamed 'The Lumberjack' is not someone you would want to bump into.

The same could be said of Algerian-born Samir Tahraoui, an absolute giant of a man who could take some shifting next season.

All these new recruits have points to prove.

The competition will be even fiercer in the back row.

After his performances in 2014, Jay Pitts has become all but indispensable.

Tom Olbison and Danny Addy are well established while Dale Ferguson, one of the best back-rowers in Super League when Huddersfield finished top in 2013, will be keen to make up for lost time.

Lucas Walshaw is another player who stands well over 6ft and can play in the second row or at centre.

Chev Walker's professionalism should continue to rub off on teenagers such as Alex Mellor and Sam Bates.

Dave Petersen, a hooker or loose forward, and the versatile Jean Philippe Baile provide Lowes with further options.

Could the Bulls bounce back at the first attempt? Will they be able to topple Super League opposition in the all-important Super Eight play-offs?

In truth, nobody really knows how stiff the challenge will be because the radical restructure is completely new.

It should also be noted that top-flight clubs have a significant advantage in spending power over those in the Championship.

The Super League salary cap of £1.85million next year dwarves the £1million limit in the second tier.

But the squad that Bradford have assembled should certainly be good enough to negotiate the first hurdle: finishing in the top two.

That would give them four home games and three away in the Super Eight at the end of the regular season. Finishing third or fourth would mean four away games and three at home.

Only three teams in the Championship – Bradford, London and Leigh – will be full-time next season, but Featherstone, Halifax, Sheffield and Doncaster will be no mugs either.

Given the squad at Lowes' disposal, it is hard not to feel that Bradford are more than capable of a top-two finish before the serious business of the Super Eight play-offs.

With what is at stake, 2015 promises to be quite some journey.