Bulls coach Mick Potter is fast closing in on a new prop to replace departed skipper Andy Lynch.

Potter is currently back home in Australia scouring the market for a front rower and his efforts could bear fruit this week.

Bradford recently released Lynch from the last year of his contract after agreeing a fee with Hull for his services.

The 31-year-old, who served the Bulls with distinction following his arrival from Castleford in 2005, signed a two-year deal with the Airlie Birds.

Although the club have several irons in the fire both in the UK and overseas, their principal target is currently playing in the NRL, although contrary to speculation, Manly prop Brent Kite is not on the Bulls’ radar.

Chief executive Ryan Duckett said: “Recruiting a front-rower is our top priority.

“We are reasonably close to completing a deal and hopefully will be able to make an announcement in the near future. It may well be this week in fact.

“Jarrod Sammut is now classed as a federation-trained player, which gives us more scope to bring in another player from overseas should we wish to do so.”

Duckett also admitted that former Bulls favourite Glenn Morrison will not be returning to Odsal.

The 35-year-old Australian loose forward is set to take up a player-coach role at Batley Bulldogs under John Kear.

After three years with the Bulls, Morrison has spent the past two seasons under Kear at Wakefield.

Duckett added: “We did have conversations with Glenn about the possibility of him coming back to Bradford.

“His quality as a player and as a person is well known to us, but Glenn is keen to go down the coaching route and our most pressing need is for a prop.

“That’s where all our efforts are focused at this moment in time.”

Meanwhile, Bulls duo James Donaldson and Luke Gale have been named in the 22-man England Knights squad to feature in their upcoming autumn programme.

The Knights face France at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday (3pm).