BRADFORD Bulls have appointed Nigel Wood as their chairman.

In late 2019, Wood and his family became a major shareholder in the consortium that took over the Bulls from previous owner Andrew Chalmers.

The move will see acting CEO and Dewsbury Rams chief Mark Sawyer take a little stand back from day-to-day duties.

Wood said: “Our first objective is to get the Bulls back to Bradford, in a sustainable way and we are making solid progress.

"We hope the past months have begun to demonstrate that the Bulls are in safe hands.

"Bulls supporters deserve their team to be playing in the city and frankly the city needs the Bulls to be playing here. We will leave no stone unturned to try to make that a reality.

"But while getting back to Bradford represents the first step, it isn’t the only one and everyone at the club recognises the journey we need to go on.

"We want the club to be a source of pride for the city and we will work positively and collaboratively with all partners who want to see the club regain some of the ground it is lost over the past decade."

Wood is a former RFL and International Rugby League chief executive, retiring from the roles in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

Sawyer added: "It was always going to be a touch unusual for the chairman of another club to be CEO of the Bulls but it was the right solution at the time.

"I like to think we managed any potential conflicts as equitably as possible but the start of the season seems an appropriate time to put a little more clear blue water between the two clubs.

"Nigel has been helping out behind the scenes for a little while and now has more time than previously.”

Wood will be joined at the club by shareholder Adam Fogerty who is concentrating on commercial and stadium issues.