SIX potential signings have slipped through the Bulls’ fingers while they remain in special measures, John Kear today claimed.

The Bradford coach has revealed the cost of the current embargo as he misses out on possible recruits.

Three weeks after their season ended, Kear is still unable to add to the 14 players currently contracted for next year until the RFL give the club the all-clear.

And he fears it is allowing their Championship rivals the chance to steal a march with their own plans.

Kear said: “People are making signings left, right and centre and it’s a massive frustration.

“There are six quality players who I felt we could have got over the line who have now signed somewhere else.

“Obviously there are people of our squad as well who are out of contract that we’d like to lock in there.

“We’re sweet-talking them and trying to keep them onside with us but it’s because increasingly more difficult.”

Sam Hallas told the Telegraph & Argus of his dilemma over wanting to stay with the Bulls but having rival concrete offers to consider while the club are stuck in limbo.

“Sam’s a full-time player so he needs a job,” added Kear.

“He’s one of those we are trying to keep sweet but at some stage you’ve got your car to pay off, your mortgage or whatever bills are coming in.

“You can’t do that on promises and fresh air.”

Kear experienced the financial shackles of being in administration when he was head coach at Wakefield.

But he admits the current scenario is proving to be a tougher challenge because of the uncertainty.

“It wasn’t as difficult as this,” he said. “You were dealing with facts when I was previously involved with a club going into administration.

“We don’t know what we’re dealing with at the minute. It all seems like a fog.

“The sooner the sun shines and disperses the fog, the better it will be.

“I must have spoken to agents of about 14-15 players and it’s becoming increasingly difficult. Ultimately, they’ve got to make a decision by a certain date.

“If you’re in for a quality player, there will be other clubs in for them as well – and those clubs will give them deadlines.

“At that point, you’d take the factual and the concrete rather than the promised land.

“As I say, If we hadn’t been in this situation, I’d have been absolutely bob on that we’d have got those six players.

"They've gone elsewhere and it's disappointed me but I totally understand."