BRADFORD Bulls head coach John Kear believes they can take inspiration from a Championship rival in 2020.

Following the enforced sale of several players to clear debts, Bulls are facing a squad rebuild for the next campaign.

But Kear pointed out that Featherstone Rovers began last pre-season with a small squad, with Rovers going on to reach the Championship play-off final against Toronto.

He said: "We know this year (2020) is going to be tough, but we know it's going to be one where we have no fear at all. We're going to show great courage and we're going to attack from the front.

"Featherstone started training last year and they only had 11 players.They gradually added to the squad as funds became available.

"Their (dual registration) partnership with Leeds worked very well and they ended the season very strongly indeed.

"I can envisage a similar journey for us but I would like to think, come round one, we'll already have a pretty solid team established, and a solid team who can challenge right from the first week of the season."

That team could contain a few lesser-known players, with Kear championing his reserve side, particularly young Tom Doyle.

He said: "We've got some real quality within that reserve team. There's quite a number of them, I feel, who'll come through and nail down a first team slot and that's their challenge.

"Tom Doyle made four first-team appearances last year I think, and he was very good in all of those games.

"We're pinning our hopes on him to become more of a regular and I'm certain that he'll provide us with some competition for that hooker spot."