IF the Bulls are to return to Super League any time soon, the contribution of the club’s homegrown players is likely to prove pivotal.

The promotion of six academy prospects into the first-team squad for next season underlines the progress that is being made in the youth ranks at Odsal.

The Under-16s and Under-19s sides are bubbling along nicely with plenty of promising young players who have dreams to one day represent the Bulls at senior level.

With Under-19s coach Matt Diskin to leave Bradford and take over at Batley at the end of the season, Leigh Beattie will step up from his current role as Under-16s boss to succeed Diskin.

Mark Dunning, who has assisted both teams for the past four years on a voluntary basis, will take sole responsibility for the Under-16s.

For Beattie, a proud Bradfordian who has performed a variety of roles at his hometown club, the promotion is something to be relished.

Beattie said: “Matt Diskin has done a great job for the Under-19s in the past two years and his boots are big ones to fill, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“Paul Medley was a mentor to me and I learned a lot from him, Steve McNamara, Jimmy Lowes and certainly Disko.

“We are just going through that transition now and when we come back for the start of pre-season in November, it will start properly.

“I’ve always coached with Meds and was happy to be an assistant, but since I’ve had a crack at being a head coach, I’ve really enjoyed it.

“Now I’m head coach of the Under-19s, I’ll see where it takes me.

“We’ve got some real talent at this club. Cameron Scott has already been selected to play for England and Lochlan McGill is a tough little hooker.

“There are some great characters coming up from the Under-16s and in the Under-19s, Reiss Butterworth has a massive future in the game.

“He’s only a first-year and was in the 19-man squad for the first-team at Workington last week. Danny Waite-Pullan is another good ‘un and Joe Brown has played for England at youth level.

“There are some good lads in this side and the amount of young lads coming through is unbelievable.

“Crucially, we are retaining players as well. Rather than moving onto Super League clubs, they want to stay here and continue progressing at Bradford.

“That’s a massive bonus for us and credit to John Bastian’s work as head of youth.

“I’m passionate about Bradford and I just want to see us get back where we belong.

“There is a lot of hard work going in by everybody at the club, so hopefully we can get back up there.”

Dunning is another Bradford lad who also spent time in the club’s junior ranks during his playing days.

He never made the grade but is delighted to have become a part of the Bulls’ coaching team in the past few seasons.

His promotion to Under-16s coach will be a paid position – a recognition of the importance of the role.

Dunning said: “It is a huge job and is something I’m very proud of.

“I’ve been working in the system here for the last four years, worked really hard and learnt from some quality people. Hopefully we can just carry on the process that is already in place.

“It has been a tough year for the club and we can’t deny that.

“The league table and the situation we are in now tells a tale.

“But being at the club as a junior during my playing days and then coming back for the last four years as a coach, I can safely say that the youth system has never been as strong as it is now.

“Hopefully it’s only going to get stronger. It’s a massive effort from everybody and I’m just lucky that I have been given this promotion and some expenses to go with it.”

Given that Beattie and Dunning are already key cogs in the coaching system at Bradford, the transition to their new elevated positions should be smooth.

The pair are already well acquainted with every player in the youth ranks and Dunning added: “I’m a local lad and the club means a lot to me, as I know it does for a lot of people in Bradford.

“Hopefully we can get the club back to where it needs to be.

“I’ve lived in Wyke all my life and played for and coached West Bowling as an amateur.

“I’ve always been a Bradford lad and again, it’s not just me who has worked voluntarily at this level.

“A lot of the work does go unseen and I’m just lucky that I’ve been in the right place at the time

“This opportunity has arisen and I’ve been rewarded for the hard work I’ve put in as well.”

Beattie and Dunning have aspirations to progress up the coaching ladder and both will continue to be part of the first-team set-up next season.

“I don’t want to be a scholarship coach for the rest of my life,” admitted 34-year-old Dunning.

“I’ve got ambitions to be the best I can be in my field and wherever it takes me, it takes me.”