The Bulls have confirmed Peter Hood as their new chairman - ending

imminent hope the world club champions could attract a big-money backer.

When Chris Caisley announced his decision to step down before Christmas, he maintained the Bulls needed a sugar daddy to continue as the most successful club of the Super League era.

But that search for a major investor has proved fruitless and so Hood, who has been acting chairman since Caisley's departure last month, now steps up.

And there is an air of

familiarity to the Bulls' new regime as club president Colin Tordoff has also joined as a director while long-serving stalwart Jack Bates, 85, has returned to the board - only a year after retiring.

With the club annually losing money, and supporters, the current board had, like Caisley, hoped for a Roman Abramovich-style takeover to ease financial fears and make sure the glory trail didn't run dry.

But Hood is still confident and said: "I am honoured to have been invited by the board to accept the appointment as chairman. I do so willingly, for Bradford Bulls has been central to my life for many years.

"There are challenging times ahead on a number of fronts, not least as we strive to turn Odsal into a modern, multi-faceted sporting environment and a fitting home for world champions."

The publisher has been deputy chairman since 2001, served as a director for seven years and was also involved during the Northern era.

He added: "In the complex business that is professional sport, there's no substitute for experience and Colin and Jack have that in spades. I'm delighted to welcome them on board as well."