GRAHAM Lowe intends to make Bradford Bulls fans proud of their club again.

The legendary former coach sees that as the biggest job facing the new regime at Odsal.

Lowe and fellow new owner Andrew Chalmers outlined their vision for the Bulls ahead of a season when they will start on minus 12 points in the Championship and facing an immediate relegation battle.

Former Australian international and Manly coach Geoff Toovey will take over the helm from Rohan Smith and Lowe admitted it was a hard sell – although the new boss did not need much convincing.

Lowe is determined to lift spirits on and off the field following one of the club's darkest periods.

He believes they are winning over the players and aims to do the same with supporters who have witnessed the downward spiral of recent years.

Lowe said: "I looked in the players' eyes when we signed most of them and you could see the stress. Nobody in any sport should have to go through that.

"Then you noticed the contrast on seeing them out on the field and training. The smiles on their faces and light in their eyes was fantastic.

"Hopefully we'll be able to do the same with the fans. I totally understand what they have been through. Emotion is something you can't put a price on.

"The fans here have got every right to stand tall. They have always been great fans, some of the best in the game, and there is no reason to cower.

"But you've got to produce the goods. Forget everything else off the field.

"If you show you mean it and play a brand of footy that looks like it can be successful, you can turn the fans round. Nothing else will do that.

"We live in a world where people think only coaches understand the game. I don't think that at all.

"Some of these people here have been watching for 40 or 50 years. You can't tell them anything about the game because they know it."

Academy chief Leigh Beattie is expected to take the side for Luke Robinson's testimonial at Huddersfield Giants tomorrow.

The owners revealed that 26 players have been signed on but only new captain Leon Pryce has been officially confirmed.

Pryce is at least ten years older than his team-mates and says his days of playing the "clown" in the dressing room are now over.

But he admitted numbers need bolstering with only a fortnight to go to the season opener at Hull KR.

Pryce said: "Realistically we are quite far off. We need investment in players and that's in Geoff's hands.

"We're pretty skinny in terms of numbers. We need a little bit more experience – but Geoff Toovey is a massive name for the club and I'm so pleased we now have some direction.

"Speaking as a Bradford Bulls fan, it's been a difficult time with a lot of false hope over the last five or six years."

Jas Athwal has been appointed chairman and Lowe also expects to bring Robbie Hunter-Paul back into the fold.

Lowe said: "You can't have that amount of experience and passion around and not utilise it."