ROHAN Smith appreciates it won't be a totally stress-free Christmas for Bulls players, staff and supporters – but insists the 'right decision' is all that matters.

It was hoped that weeks of uncertainty over the Bulls' future would come to an end yesterday afternoon with the announcement of a new owner for the club.

However, any takeover deal will now not be finalised until Tuesday at the earliest as the club's administrators mull over a formal offer – which has the backing of the RFL.

Smith, who took over at the helm in May, guided the Bulls to Championship Shield success before the campaign ended and the off-field chaos began.

Having rebuilt his squad ahead of the new season, the Australian admits it has been a tough time for all concerned but also stressed the need for patience.

He told the T&A: "It would have been fantastic if something had happened yesterday, so everyone could rest easy over Christmas and know where their future is.

"But at this point everyone just wants the right decision to be made. It's a bit of a Catch-22 – everyone wants it to happen soon but we also want the right thing for the Bradford Bulls going forward."

He continued: "Until this week it hasn't really affected me at all. This week, it's caught up on everyone involved with the Bulls I think.

"It's been hard not to feel a little bit of distress, but overall my biggest concerns have been for the players and for the lifelong fans of this club.

"Life will go on for me personally, but I want to make sure the Bulls are in good hands, growing going forward, and getting back to being a dominant force.

"We're all getting the opportunity to live our dreams, doing what we want in life and being part of a big club. Not everyone gets that opportunity, so we're very fortunate and we know that.

"But it's more than just a job to us – it's a way of life, so it's been a very difficult time for everyone."