BULLS' preparations for the 2018 campaign have already started – even though the club remain in the dark over which division they will be in next year.

With just seven games to come this season, Bradford are marooned 12 points adrift of safety ahead of Sunday's Odsal clash with Toulouse Olympique.

Subsequently, Geoff Toovey's side are almost certain to finish bottom of the Kingstone Press Championship table.

A potential restructure of the top two tiers could yet save the club from the drop to League One.

But with discussions ongoing on that front, Bulls operations manager Russ MacFarlane admits that planning for 2018 has to be based on the club's current predicament.

He told the T&A: "The process of planning for next season started a while ago. Obviously, there are plenty of things to plan for – off the field, the kit design and merchandise, and of course players for next year.

"Securing the right players for next season to get us where we need to be is a huge factor in our planning at the moment.

"We've not heard anything more on a possible restructure and unless it happens we can't anything say anything more. We've just got to plan from where we are and our position in the league.

"We can only plan for what we know. If something like that comes along then great. Finally, something will have gone in our favour.

"But all we can do is deal with what's definitely in front of us and that's what we're doing."

MacFarlane was also quick to stress that the Bulls remain on a sound financial footing – despite their on-field woes.

"We've not gone for a do-or-die attitude," he added. "It's been about trying to build a sustainable club.

"So relegation would put us back a year, but from the tough circumstances that we began in at the start of the year it was never going to be easy, and we've just got to continue building the club back to what it used to be.

"That's our focus, and it's certainly not all doom and gloom. There are plenty of positives this season – there is still a club here and the incredible fans are still here supporting the club home and away.

"There is also plenty of support from local businesses, and as a result we're ready for whatever next season throws at us."