KARL Harrison believes a lack of familiarity with the Championship hindered Geoff Toovey's bid to keep the Bulls up.

The Australian arrived at Odsal last season with an impressive track record as former coach of Manly Sea Eagles, taking them to the NRL Grand Final in 2013.

But he was unable to stop the Bulls dropping into League One as the minus-12 points deduction proved too much to overcome.

Harrison, a former Bradford assistant coach under Jimmy Lowes, believes it was always going to be difficult for Toovey to make the transition from elite level Down Under to the second tier in this country.

He said: "I thought Geoff did okay but he didn't know the competition. It is hard for people coming from overseas to understand what the lower leagues of English rugby league are about.

"It is not the same as Super League. It is not quick, it is not flash, it is hardcore rugby league."

Harrison also accepts there were mitigating factors for Toovey, who opted not to continue at the helm for a second year, with the Bulls likely to start the interview process later this week for his successor.

The former Australian international, who was unable to officially take up his post until June due to visa problems, had a young, small squad which suffered disruption due to having to use loan players.

Harrison said: "Geoff was a great player, a great half-back, and had many successful seasons as coach at Manly Sea Eagles.

"He came to the Bulls when they were going through a new ownership process and that can't have been easy for him.

"He lost a lot of players and recruitment wasn't great, so he was stuck with some players who probably didn't fit the bill for last season."