BULLS chairman Marc Green believes one man will deserve more credit than most if the club wins promotion – managing director Steve Ferres.

When the Bulls’ relegation was confirmed following a heavy defeat at Huddersfield last July, Ferres faced a mountainous task to build a squad for the Championship.

Some players jumped ship for Super League clubs and others were not offered deals but Ferres swiftly set about tying down several existing squad members and recruiting new ones.

His efforts have harvested a 30-strong group for head coach Jimmy Lowes and the Bulls still have salary cap space to make further signings, with trialist Charlie Martin currently waiting to hear if he will be offered a deal.

Ferres came on board when Green completed his takeover of the Bulls last March and heads up the football side of the club.

“The strength of any business is based on the quality of people that you surround yourself with,” said Green.

“Fortunately, I’m surrounded by winners here.

“Robbie (Hunter-Paul) was a winner and Jimmy, with whom he won so much, is now my head coach.

“My managing director was a winner and I think Steve has proven his worth and his knowledge of the game with the team he has assembled here. I give him total credit for that.”

As an ardent rugby league man with well over 40 years in the game as a player, coach and administrator, Ferres boasts an impressive CV.

The appointment of the former Bradford Northern player and Wakefield, Castleford and York chief executive, who had spells coaching Hunslet and Huddersfield, came about after he was recommended to Green.

The Bulls owner continued: “We didn’t have a single player contracted to the club prior to the loss against Huddersfield which confirmed our relegation, but Steve set about negotiating with players and getting them signed up.

“Every one of the existing players could have walked out and nobody could have joined – but Steve put this squad together.

“The reason I say that is that if we are fortunate enough to get promoted, then he deserves all the credit.

“He has demonstrated that he knows what he’s doing and, come rain or shine, we will be in the right position at the right time with Steve here. I have the utmost faith in him.

“I am absolutely over the moon with the quality of the squad that we’ve got.

“We’ve got some great experience, a great coach and a great system behind the coach.”

The Bulls are to hold three events at Odsal in the next three days: An Evening with the Bulls tomorrow, a sponsors lunch on Friday and the 'Bulls Ball – The Official Season Launch’ on Saturday evening.