THE Bulls will consider going without a dual-reg deal if they cannot get the partnership they want.

John Kear remains in discussion with a couple of Super League clubs over the possibility of a link-up, which would give him access to fringe players.

The head coach expects a decision before the end of the year to allow plenty of time before the new Championship campaign kicks off against London on February 2.

But he has suggested that they would be prepared to pull the plug on any plans if the right move cannot be struck.

Kear said: “I’m not going into a dual-reg situation just because everyone’s expecting us to.

“If there’s something that doesn’t quite fit with us as a club, then we’ll stick as we are.

“There are two clubs who I’m getting very close with regarding finalising something.

“We’ll go down that route if we feel it’s a benefit for us and for the other club involved.

“But we’ll go with ourselves if we come to a sticking point and we’d be happy to do that.”

Kear admits he has never been a fan of the system which allows lower-division teams to borrow players from Super League sides.

Championship rivals such as Featherstone and Leigh utilised the system effectively last season to reach the play-offs.

But given the Bulls’ current scenario, with the squad thinned down on last year because of economics, it is an avenue that he has been willing to consider.

The Bulls were among several clubs thought to be in talks with Toronto, who have yet to announce whether they will be in a dual-reg relationship.

There has been a previous tie-in with the Wolfpack when the two sides set up the Transatlantic Challenge friendlies in pre-season.

Kear expects an answer from the current talks shortly but also stressed that the recruitment plans already in place will not be affected by the outcome.

He has already revealed that a “raft” of players are expected to arrive on loan from one club in January.

Kear added: “The timeframe remains the same. There’s a strong possibility that (the dual-reg) will be sorted by Christmas.

“But those other signings won’t be affected by this at all. It would be by way of supplement rather than replacement, which is good.”

Sam Barlow’s return from a drugs suspension made him Kear’s third capture following Super League duo Greg Johnson and Anthony England.

And Bulls added their fourth signing yesterday when Hull KR forward Adam Rooks penned a season-long loan deal

“We’re not going to bring just anybody in,” said Kear. “We want people who add value.

“I’m confident there will be others coming in. We’re trying to work hard and work smart."