LEIGH Beattie will view any reinforcements to the Bulls cause this week as a "bonus".

Beattie admits he is in the dark regarding possible further recruits – or when he will step aside for Geoff Toovey to take the Odsal reins.

The Australian is still waiting for the red tape to be cleared so that he can have a working visa to begin his role as head coach.

In the meantime, Beattie will continue to lead the team as they prepare for the round-three trip to Swinton on Sunday.

The costly home loss to Rochdale exposed the lack of experience within the playing ranks and the need for more know-how, particularly among the forwards.

But Beattie is waiting on the owners to find out if there will be more options at his disposal this weekend.

He said: "That's down to the people in command. As I keep saying, we can only coach with what we've got at the minute.

"If they decide to bring some more in, that will be a bonus. It doesn't get any easier but that's the hand we've been dealt and we've just got to move on."

Bulls hooker Joe Lumb added: "The team we've got are down to the bare minimum. We've got a very young pack.

"You can't knock the lads for trying. The effort is there and we just need to tweak a few things. There are little things we need to work on and pick up week by week."

Yet while the senior ranks remain below-strength, the Bulls Academy continues to attract top young players and head of youth John Bastian and his team have now recruited five more talented newcomers to the blooming set-up.

The Youth Academy have introduced Jake Lightowler (back row/lose forward – Stanningley), Tom Crosland (wing – Featherstone Lions), Thomas Doyle (loose forward/hooker – Stanningley), Alix Stephenson (half back/full back – Queensbury) and Tom Forrest (half back/back row – Stanningley).

Bastian said: "It's a great opportunity for these boys and they have settled in really well. They have a great attitude and they are applying themselves well.

"These young men have the potential to progress in our Academy system here at the Bulls. We already had these players in our talent data base, which is the way our scouting system works and operates from the age of 12 to 19 years of age."

Despite the departure of some quality junior players during the club's financial strugglers, under-19s coach Beattie has his squad ready for the season opener later this week when they face Wakefield.

Beattie said: "We've still got a lot of strong things in place and we still have a lot of wonderful young players. Five players that got offered contracts to Super Leagues teams wanted to stay with us, which was a huge boost.

"We are delighted to still have them on board and we've certainly still got some talented young players in and around them that are coming through.

"The group of players and the staff are excited to get the season underway and look to continue the future development of young players at Bradford Bulls. This has always been our main focus and will continue to be under the new regime and the new club."