SAY what you like about Steve Ferres, and many have in recent days, but there can be no denying his influence at Bradford these past three seasons.

When Marc Green bought the Bulls from Leeds-based administrator David Wilson in March 2014, Ferres was made managing director.

The vastly-experienced Ferres was seen as a safe pair of hands to advise Green, who by his own admission had never even set foot inside Odsal before he somehow ended up owning the club.

Robbie Hunter-Paul kept his title as chief executive but essentially Ferres ran the show and has been Green’s most trusted aide and right-hand man.

The unlikely pair, a Cockney and a Castlefordian, became close friends and Green clearly took exception to any criticism which came Ferres’ way.

In recent weeks, there has been plenty.

Failure to finish in the top four of the Championship has made Bradford the laughing stock of rugby league.

Ferres resigned on the back of that and amid a generally-held view that he was largely responsible for the club’s recruitment of players.

Yes, there have been some poor decisions on players signed, the length of contracts handed out and the wages paid.

In short, an awful lot of money has been wasted.

But it is far too simplistic to blame Ferres for the club’s failure because other players have flopped who he was not responsible for signing.

The performance department as a whole – players, coaches and backroom staff – must also accept a large share of responsibility.

I clashed with Steve at times but generally found him a very decent chap who does not bear a grudge.

Cut him open and you will find a genuine rugby league man who cares about a sport he worked in for over 45 years.

Significantly, Ferres’ resignation has left a vacuum in the corridors of power at Odsal.

Hunter-Paul remains in a position as chief executive, which has taken on commercial responsibilities following Rob Parker’s departure earlier this year.

Could Robbie succeed Ferres as top dog?

You certainly wouldn’t rule it out, but the former Bulls captain has always steered clear of football matters since returning to the club under Omar Khan’s ownership in June 2013.

Making RHP the new MD would save recruiting someone else and goodness knows, Bradford need to make some serious cutbacks right now.

Their fifth-placed finish in the Championship means they will receive only £275,000 in central monies from the RFL next year.

For a club whose current monthly wage bill is over £150,000, that is a major concern.

Green managed to pay the wages last month – albeit a week late – but that he was clearly struggling to find the funds raises all manner of doubts over the club’s continued viability in its current form.

The Bulls cannot keep spending over £1million on players and need to be far more sensible financially.

They need someone who can oversee the football department, work closely with head coach Rohan Smith on recruitment and get far better value from every area of the club.

Two names spring to mind as potential candidates to succeed Ferres – Brian Noble and Karl Harrison.

Nobby’s affection for a club where he enjoyed such success during the glory days of over a decade ago is enduring.

Noble is heading up the newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack as their director of rugby and seems to be enjoying the ride.

But whatever Toronto are, they are not Bradford Bulls and Noble would surely walk across hot coals for the opportunity to help return his home-town club to their rightful place.

Harrison has enjoyed two spells as an assistant coach at Bradford and boasts a wealth of experience in rugby league and the world of business.

He grew up in Drighlington as a Bradford Northern fan and is a popular and well-respected figure in the game with an unrivalled contacts book.

I sat with Rhino during a rugby league forum last week and passion for Bradford dripped from the 52-year-old.

Steam almost came out of his ears as he told of how he was under-utilised last season by head coach Jimmy Lowes.

“If I had been allowed a greater say, there is no doubt that Bradford would have been promoted last season,” stated Harrison matter-of-factly.

Green relied on Ferres to oversee the football department and now he has left the building, Harrison could take on that role.

The former Great Britain prop guided Salford into the Super League play-offs on a shoestring budget before delivering silverware to Batley and Halifax.

He now works as a player agent but remains on good terms with the Bulls and with Green.

Harrison knows the kind of players that are needed in the Championship and has vast experience of working to a tight budget.

He reduced the spend at Halifax from £600,000 to £300,000.

He then built a team that finished third in the Championship.

Harrison has an impressive business acumen too, having run his own companies successfully, while the systems he put in place at Batley are now bearing spectacular fruit.

Such qualities will appeal to Green, who seems determined to keep the Bulls out of administration and continue leading the club forward.

Green managed to pay the wages without any assistance from the RFL, which suggested he could be around for some time yet.

If so, the man appointed as Ferres’ successor could be Green’s most important decision to date.