RFL supremo Nigel Wood has backed the Bulls to launch a formidable promotion challenge this year as they seek to return to Super League at the first attempt.

Wood has applauded the stability at Odsal as the club gears up for its first campaign outside the top flight for over 40 years.

After a nightmare 2014 campaign, which saw the Bulls enter administration and be docked six points before Marc Green took control last March, a sense of optimism has returned.

Wood told the T&A: “You look at Bradford Bulls and there is stability there now.

“I have every confidence in Marc Green and his first lieutenant Steve Ferres, who is a tried and trusted and well-established rugby league executive who will ensure the club make the right decisions.

“Robbie Hunter-Paul is making his way in that regard as well, so I think they have got some good people in place.

“Bradford have a long and proud tradition in the Super League and they will be disappointed that they are now not in it. But I’m sure they would expect to be back there as quickly as possible.

“I’m pretty sure that the Bulls will be one of the strongest clubs in the Championship and they will certainly be targeting a place in that middle eight.

“Thereafter it will be about performances on the field and they will have seven weeks to demonstrate that they deserve to be in the top 12 the year after.

“The new structure gives them and the rest of the Championship clubs an opportunity to achieve that.”

Green, meanwhile, is currently in talks with the RFL about buying back the lease on Odsal following its controversial £1.25million sale to the governing body three years ago.

The Bradford chairman has assured supporters that, while he has plans to develop the site, he has no intention of moving the club away from its historic home.

Green said: “I make no secret about it that one of my core ambitions is to secure the ownership of Odsal so that we own the freehold, the leasehold and are our own landlord and tenant.

“I can then carry on with the further developments that I’ve got in my mind’s eye over the coming years.

“Contrary to what people have been saying on social media, it is not in any way, shape or form with a view to putting a housing estate on here and moving the club away from here.

“Whilst I am the pilot of this ship, rugby will be played at Odsal throughout that period.

“What goes on after I’ve left, who knows?

“But I have no intention of putting housing, supermarkets or warehouses on this site.”

Asked what the developments could entail, Green would only say: “I’ve made a point so far of only shouting about the things we have achieved, not the things we haven’t achieved.

“I’m happy to shout about the fact that I am currently in negotiations because that is a statement of fact.

“When I have achieved it, I will make an announcement to let supporters know and then we will look into devising a blueprint into what we want to do and how we plan to achieve it.

“Coming up with an idea that costs a ridiculous amount of money, and having no means to achieve it, is a waste of time.

“So we will come up with the ideas, we will cost it, understand what we need to achieve it and once we’ve got the blueprint and we know we can deliver it, then we will consult our supporters.

“It won’t involve a move away from Odsal and the plan is to make Odsal viable regardless of what division we are in.

“We’ve got to have a development that supports the business.

“The RFL want to know there is confidence and stability here and I totally respect that.

“That’s why the negotiations are ongoing – it’s about us demonstrating where we are at as a club and them feeling confident about signing the lease back to us.”

Red Hall chief executive Wood added: “Marc Green has done everything expected of him in terms of stabilising the club.

“Bradford is a big club and rugby league needs and deserves a strong Bradford Bulls. Equally, the city of Bradford needs a strong rugby league club.”