BULLS head coach John Kear has teased a couple of new signings to the fans, saying he hopes to have them here in time for Easter.

Speaking to journalists at the club’s media day this afternoon, he said: “We deliberately left squad numbers free when we released that list the other week.

“The likes of Featherstone and York have made top signings, and while we’re happy with ours too, we’re set to bring in a couple of new faces.

“There’s nothing more to say on that yet, except we expect them to be here in time for the league season starting.”

Kear is as delighted as anyone with the news that Bulls could have up to 4,000 fans back at games from May 17, as part of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

He said: “Our first home game in front of fans would be against York on May 30. I’m really hoping that could be at Odsal, as what a way to go back that would be.

“That day would be a giant present for us and the fans.

“I said I’d be on the brandy and cigars after our first competitive game against Featherstone, well it will be brandy and champagne after our first in front of the supporters.”

Bulls do host Newcastle on May 16, and asked whether he’d like to see that moved a day later to the Monday so fans could be in attendance, Kear mused: “We’d have to weigh it up.

“We’d always want to help other teams in terms of extra revenue, and hopefully that would be the case vice versa.

“But we’ve got to do what’s best for the players. On a weekday, George Flanagan might be up filling potholes from four in the morning, so to ask him to play against Newcastle that night too, he’d have to be awake all day.”

Despite the power of Bradford’s fanbase, Kear insists the club are not at any extra disadvantage playing behind closed doors.

He said: “It is a big deal for Bradford to have fans back, but there’s something missing at any ground without supporters.

“We want to be able to feed off the fans in Bradford, but it’s the same for any club.

“You’ve seen it have an understandable effect on the percentage of away wins in football, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see that happen in the Championship too.”

Kear said the club were planning to have a friendly against Swinton at Dewsbury on Saturday, March 6, where every squad member could get game time, but that fixture is yet to be confirmed.