BULLS are in talks with potential new stadium sponsors after announcing the end of their partnership with Provident Financial.

The Bradford-based loans firm had provided backing to the Odsal club since 2013, sponsoring the club's shirts and supporting the academy, the Bradford Bulls Foundation and the Bulls women's team during that time in addition to putting their name to the ground.

The initial deal, set up when Omar Khan was Bulls chairman, was reported to be worth more than £1million over four years.

The Godwin Street-based group stuck with the Bulls through administration and relegation from Super League in 2014 and, while their shirt sponsorship deal ended when the new Odsal club was formed following liquidation early last year, they continued to sponsor the ground and the main stand.

Provident Financial suffered a turbulent 2017 themselves, with chief executive Peter Crook stepping down in August after it had to issue a series of profit warnings.

Bulls chairman Andrew Chalmers paid tribute to the company for their backing.

He said: "Provident has been the perfect example of supporting a club, and working closely and creatively to be mutually beneficial to one another. Objectives have been achieved and the supporters’ experience has been enhanced through the collective work.

“Provident intelligently utilised many of the club’s unique ‘touch points’ and stadia space to interact with supporters, engaging daily with them digitally via the club’s platforms and their ‘Supporting Bulls Supporters’ Facebook page.

"Through their position, they were also able to connect weekly with supporters live at Odsal on the concourses and in hospitality, as well as creating fun events and activities for games on the road.

“This model has been the envy of many sporting organisations and something we will be looking to replicate and enhance. We have an open-minded approach to sponsorship and we tailor our services to suit.

"It is a core value that runs throughout our commercial department, which has worked brilliantly with the Provident partnership.”

Chalmers added: “I would like to thank Paul Mitchell, who has personally managed the programme for Provident and to the management team behind him who have been fully supportive of everything he has delivered for the fans alongside the club."