BULLS have announced the news that Mark Seal will take over the reins as the head coach of the women’s team for the upcoming 2021 campaign.

Seal is entering his third year at the club, having acted as assistant to Kirsty Moroney and Beth Sutcliffe – who held the post for two years prior to stepping down six months ago.

The 2020 campaign was cancelled before a ball was kicked due to the coronavirus pandemic – but Seal’s squad were able to train prior to the most recent lockdown.

He insists the slate is clean for his players to stake their claims for a place in the squad – revealing he is looking for a more athletic, dynamic approach in 2021.

“It is a great opportunity for me – I have been at the club for two years alongside Kirsty (Moroney) and Beth (Sutcliffe), two legends of the game, and now it is great to be able to step up,” said Seal.

“We are about 95 per cent of the way there in terms of building the squad, and on the coaching front we have two new guys coming in, one as assistant and the other to lead training.

“We made it clear to the girls from the start, whether you have been here for five years or five minutes, we are starting from scratch and this is a new opportunity to build a more youthful, dynamic team.

“The girls are looking really sharp and we are trying to get them even more athletic, even though lockdown has affected us.

“We have still had them working on Zoom, doing fitness drills and hopefully we can get back out there soon with ball in hand.

“We are looking to take the game to the opposition next year, get on the front foot and when the opportunities arise we will be fit enough to take them.”

Bulls won both the Women’s Super League and the Challenge Cup in 2017, but have struggled a little since then.

They will also have to deal with the loss of influential England international Amy Hardcastle for the 2021 season, after she joined St Helens in May.