IT’S felt like a very long off-season for the Bradford Bulls – and even longer for some.

The uncertainty surrounding the club has taken its toll on supporters, staff and those players who are still contracted for next year.

George Flanagan has been left hanging more than most after his 2019 campaign came to a premature and ugly end.

An eight-match suspension for “attacking the testicles” of Toronto full back Hakim Miloudi saw his season curtailed in early August.

With his contract up – and the Bulls in no position to offer anything because of the RFL’s special measures – it was a tricky period for the 33-year-old.

But a family holiday to Turkey gave Flanagan some time and space to escape all the rumours and have a spot of introspection and self-analysis.

“I made no secret about it but I didn’t have the best of seasons, on and off the field,” he admitted.

“I let things boil over a bit too much going into games and got carried away and ultimately that left me with an eight-game suspension.

“But I took it on the chin and I’m just looking forward now to starting again.

“I obviously finished last year not knowing what I would be doing next.

“I went away with the family and decided to forget about rugby totally until I got back and then I’d start chasing it again.

“It helped to clear my head and probably something that I really needed. It was the same with my family as well.

“I’m obviously on social media and was reading it every day. People were writing stuff and it was all negative.

“As soon as you go on any platform, it was ‘Bradford Bulls this, Bradford Bulls that’.

“There are six other clubs in special measures but only one was getting branded with all this stuff.

“You’re wondering whether we’re going to have a club and have a ground and it was a difficult time.”

After scoring 14 tries in helping the Bulls up from League One, Bradford-born Flanagan’s contribution was more intermittent in the first season back in the Championship.

He scored six times, twice in the thrashing of Widnes at Odsal, but missed the Challenge Cup win over Leeds with a broken thumb. His 20 appearances included two suspensions.

Flanagan said: “I didn’t help myself in any way, shape or form with my performances on the field.

“I had a couple of one-on-ones with JK (John Kear) to try to rectify a few things in my game which I wasn’t pleased with.

“When I come on, I like to change a game. I like to speed it up and make an impact, that’s my job.

“Everything blew over me last year and I probably tried too hard to change things. A player with my experience doesn’t need to be going round like a headless chicken."

Kear’s support was critical in Flanagan’s decision to stay. There was other interest but his heart was set at remaining in his home city and playing for a coach who has got his back.

“I kept in regular contact with JK and he’s shown a lot of faith in me. Hopefully I can repay him by giving it a decent dig next year and see where it takes us.”

Flanagan feels reassured by the club’s change of ownership. The players had a meeting with Eric Perez, Mark Sawyer and Nigel Wood where the chirpy hooker reminded them that it’s good to talk.

He said: “We weren’t getting any communication from the board in the last few months.

“That’s what we asked the new board about and they are fully supportive of us.

“As long as my wages are in the bank every month, then I’m happy.

“If there’s going to be some difficulties or a delay, just let us know rather than waiting to the actual day and seeing if the money is in there.

“There were no late payments last year but you were always wondering if it was going to happen. That was the frustrating thing.

“It would have been nice if someone had talked to us. You just want clarification.

“As players, we don’t care what’s going on above our heads as long as we’ve got a bit of grass to play on every week and we’re going to be turning a team out.

“The new board gave us some good feedback. Everything looks more positive than it was a couple of months ago.”