JOHN Kear’s recruitment budget will not be slashed as part of the financial salvage operation at the Bulls.

Mark Sawyer, one of the club’s new major shareholders, has promised a competitive wage pot as the experienced coach plays catch-up with their Championship rivals following the club’s spell in special measures.

The hybrid system of mixing full and part-time players has been maintained – and the owners hope to keep it in place for the following season.

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The Bulls return to pre-season training on Monday and Kear is busily recruiting after being blocked from doing any deals.

Sawyer said: “John’s talking with half a dozen potential new signings.

“I’m acting as a consultant in the role and set a coach a budget and it’s up to him which players he signs. I don’t interfere with that.

“My involvement is how you can make a club sustainable.

“But it’s not a case that Bradford will be trimmed right back to the bone and be going nowhere.

“We need to look at all options at getting this club back on its feet quickly over the next few months. I think the sort of money that was being spent on players over the last few years is affordable.

“But it’s affordable with the club moving forward in a professional manner in all areas and covering all income streams.

“There hasn’t been that hard work for some time of going into detail of how each area can bring that money in to sustain the club at that level.”

Sawyer insists the budget will include room for the club’s much-vaunted academy and youth set-up, “which is what Bradford are famous for”.

He added: “It could be that we take the cheaper route of putting that to one side and piling the money into the first team. But we need something under-pinning moving forward.

“If we’re fortunate enough to have an opportunity to get into Super League, we’ve got to have something that gives us a chance to sustain that position.

“Without that set-up, we would struggle.”

Sam Hallas, Rhys Evans, George Flanagan and Ross Oakes have re-signed but the Bulls sold five players to Hull KR last week – although Rowan Milnes will return on a season-long loan. Jy Hitchcox became the latest departure.

Sawyer said: “Obviously a few have gone out and one or two have asked for a release and that’s very disappointing.

“But we’re trying now to be blinkered and look forward and not talk about the past.

“It’s good to see that so many were keen to stay. They’ve bought into the fact that the club needs a good MOT, to put it bluntly.”