A DISASTROUS 2014 pre-season campaign saw the Bulls enter administration and docked six points amid a farcical ownership saga – but there was also some rugby played.

James Saltonstall featured in all three friendlies against Hull FC, Dewsbury and Castleford this time last year, scoring a try against the Rams.

He had joined Bradford on a month's loan together with Warrington team-mates Joe Philbin and Tom Walker.

While Philbin and Walker returned to Warrington at the end of their loan spells, Saltonstall extended his stay into a second month and continued to train with Francis Cummins' men even beyond that.

When it became clear that there would be no real first-team opportunities with Tony Smith's side, or indeed at Bradford, he ended up joining York City Knights on loan in April.

Saltonstall, who has an impressive pedigree as an England Academy player and senior Italy international, stayed at York for the rest of the season and prospered.

He went on to be named the joint Championship One young player of the year with York team-mate Ben Reynolds.

After negotiating a release from the remainder of his contract at Warrington, for whom he never made a first-team appearance, 21-year-old Saltonstall has since joined Halifax on a two-year deal.

The utility back was part of Italy's 2013 World Cup squad after helping them to an historic win over England a week before the tournament started.

He said of his time at Odsal: "They were a good set of lads and I was made to feel welcome even though I was just training there.

"It was good to be training in a full-time environment and the lads were all upbeat even though it was a bad situation for everyone to be in with all the off-field problems.

"I'd never been involved in anything like that before but all the lads stuck together and got through it, so they deserve credit for that.

"I believe I deserved a first-team opportunity at Warrington but unfortunately it never came. I had to move on, knuckle down and try and rebuild my career again, which I did at York.

"I appreciated Gary Thornton, who was the coach at the time, taking me on because I hadn't played for a while. He gave me the opportunity to start playing rugby again, so I just got back into enjoying it.

"It was a bonus to win the young player of the year award and I was pleased with that."

Saltonstall's exploits for York prompted Halifax coach Richard Marshall, who was his under-20s coach at Warrington, to hand him a two-year deal at his home-town club.

Halifax are part-time, so Saltonstall is now working in an office to supplement his rugby wage.

He explained: "I'm working at Lloyds Bank, dealing with insurance. I'm behind a desk in a big data centre, so it's pretty steady.

"I work Monday to Friday and at Halifax we train three nights at the moment and once at the weekends. When the season starts, we'll be doing three nights with a game at the weekend."

Halifax are expected to push hard for a top-four finish this season and their squad certainly looks useful enough – they thumped Hull KR 46-16 at Craven Park last weekend.

"I always used to go and watch Halifax and supported them as a kid, so it's great to be playing for my home-town club now," said Saltonstall.

"We've got a few players with Super League experience, so there is plenty of quality in the squad.

"We've got Richard Moore, who has been around for a long time, so hopefully he can take us forward. Miles Greenwood is a good full back and will give us a few options with ball in hand.

"Halifax and Bradford is a big derby and there has not been a league game between them for a while now. That's something to look forward to.

"We've got a good squad with competition right across the board. The aim is to get into the top four and test ourselves against Super League opposition.

"Hopefully I can cement a spot in the team this year, take it week by week and see where that leads to. I'd love to play in Super League one day."