BULLS managing director Steve Ferres today welcomed encouraging season-ticket sales figures as he urged fans to continue backing the club through the turnstiles.

Since the 1863 membership packages were launched a fortnight ago, sales have approached the 500 mark and Ferres expects numbers to increase significantly with pay-day looming at the end of the month.

He stressed the importance of the Bulls hitting their target figure of 4,000 memberships in order to pay for a 30-strong full-time squad, with the club's running costs amounting to £2.7million next year.

"There is no early-bird option this year but sales have been steady and we expect to gather further momentum with pay-day fast approaching," said Ferres.

"I believe we should be able to sell 4,000 memberships in the Championship and 8,000 in Super League.

"If we get 4,000 supporters paying £250, that's a million quid. If we get 8,000 paying £250, that's £2million, therefore membership sales can plug a big hole in what this club needs to generate.

"What we've got to do is be fair and deliver everything we say we're going to deliver.

"That means giving our spectators the best value for money, not just in terms of the squad we've put together but also with other incentives and benefits that come with having a Bradford Bulls membership.

"It's not one man's job and there is no white knight at this club, so if everybody chips in then we can get Bradford Bulls back to what it was.

"But we aren't just begging for the money; we are actively working to make things better for the fans and to engage with them."

Some supporters have baulked at the cost of next year's membership, with cheaper season tickets available at a number of Super League clubs.

Yet Ferres insisted the range of offers included in the 1863 membership packages represents excellent value for money.

He pointed to the range of exclusive offers which fans receive with a membership at Odsal next term, such as discounts at a wide range of local businesses who the Bulls are partnering with.

"By the time we kick off at the start of the season, there will be 100 businesses on board as a minimum," said Ferres.

"If we can grow that by two per week, then this time next year there should be 200 businesses on board.

"It means you can dine somewhere and you save 10 per cent or get a certain reduction on a gym membership.

"We aim to get that value going up constantly and keep delivering these offers.

"We understand that some offers won't be applicable to everybody ,but a lot of them will because they will be geared around food, children and entertainment.

"The fact that businesses want to partner with the Bulls means we can get these unique discounts that will ultimately drive our membership prices down.

"But fans are already going to have an extra one or two games next season, which is a saving of £20 or £40.

"They get £5 off a replica shirt, a discount on the Summer Bash and we're going to do special offers on certain days that will be specific to members.

"There will be a lot of 'money can't buy' prizes, such as members-only events, and they will get to know information first.

"It's about them buying in to what we're trying to do. We've got to deliver on the pitch – there's no doubt about that – but I'm pretty sure we will do."