JOHN Kear says he cannot offer assurances to the Bulls players wanting to know about their futures.

The RFL’s statement last week confirming the club are in special measures blocks them from making signings – and that includes renewing contracts.

Kear admits it is an “unhelpful distraction” in the build-up to Sunday’s Odsal farewell against Sheffield as they prepare to move out for Dewsbury next year.

He said: “The players question me about what special measures mean and they want certain reassurances.

“But I can’t give them any because I’m in the dark about it. I’m also in the dark about how we come out of special measures.

“As I understand it, we can’t sign any new players for next year or re-sign anyone out of contract.

“So, we’ve got 14 contracted players for season 2020.

“Yes, Sunday is a big occasion because it’s the last game at Odsal. I’m concerned about that but I’m also concerned about the next 12 months from a performance perspective.”

Ethan Ryan is expected to complete a much-touted switch to Hull KR but Kear’s plans with the remainder are on hold until the RFL say otherwise.

He added: “I was down at Wembley last Friday and just saw the statement then. There was no heads up.

“We’ve just had to deal with the fall-out from it and attempt to prepare as best we can for this coming weekend’s game.

“If we get bogged down with clarification about what special measures entail, then we won’t be doing our job preparing the team.”

Ryan’s exit for Craven Park has been mooted since May, when players coming out of contract were able to talk to other clubs.

The Bulls had hoped to hang on to their top try scorer but feared they could not compete with the lure of playing in the Super League.

“It wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever,” said Kear. “If that’s the case, Ethan has been great for Bradford and Bradford has been great for Ethan.

“Should he be going to Hull Kingston Rovers, then I wish him every success. There’ll be no acrimony.

“I could understand the decision, shake his hand and wish him well for the future.

“We’d have loved to have kept him here so we could develop him as part of our Super League players.

“He’s a young man with Super League potential. He’s yet to achieve it but he’s certainly got it.”