BULLS CEO Jason Hirst has been candid enough to admit his start to life at the club has been "a baptism of fire".

Hirst, a Bradford fan of almost 50 years, has openly confessed that the club have made some big mistakes over the past few months.

He also believes there are elements of rugby league administration and politics that beggar belief somewhat.

But Hirst insists that there is a lot of good going on at the Bulls and that it is his and the club's mission to keep moving forward and focus on the positives.

Here is his column reflecting on his start to life as Bulls' CEO:

I’ve been reflecting on the last 10 weeks since my appointment as the CEO at the Bradford Bulls.

What a 10 weeks. It’s been a real eye-opener and at times, a baptism of fire.

In that brief time, we have recruited a new head coach and a football consultant, won some games, lost some games, let some players go and recruited some.

We have also welcomed government ministers to Odsal, met our loyal supporters and numerous commercial partners, hosted several Bradford & Keighley Community Club finals and last week, held rugby league’s first ever Eid celebration.

I suppose the point I am trying to make is the depth and breadth of what goes on at this club is unbelievable, diverse and impressive.

Being candid, the sheer level of interdependencies and challenges have somewhat surprised me.

As a loyal, week in, week out fan of 46 years, I really had no idea of the back-office workload, nor the complexity of both running a stadium and getting four teams (first Team, reserves, academy and scholarship) out on the field of play on a regular basis.

I am also learning more about the rugby league politics that we seem to have to navigate and hurdle.

For instance, I was staggered that one Championship team will receive five times as much as the Bulls this year from central resources, and that is before any additional generous contributions from benefactors and owners.

Surely this needs to be addressed if the sport wants a competitive Championship competition?

I also now have a more in-depth understanding of how players are free to talk to other clubs from May 1 each year and to contract themselves to other teams at a time when there’s still two-thirds of the season to be played.

Obviously, I understand that players need to protect their futures, that’s only right, but surely three months is sufficient time?

It certainly would be in most other occupations and if adopted in rugby league, would mean no talks taking place until September 1 each year.

We have started our recruitment process for next year, helped significantly by Northern and Bulls legend Brian Noble, MBE, who is adding real value, with his undoubted knowledge, expertise and impressive contacts list.

I promise you a significantly different approach, both in strategy and execution, to recruitment and retention, compared to last year’s off-season.

One of our other biggest areas for improvement is external communication.

I admit that we made a mistake last week, in not letting the fans' forum run over the original deadline of 9:30pm, to answer open mic questions, even though the chairman, myself and other club officials didn’t leave the building and stop answering questions until well after 11pm.

We will address this at our next fans' forum and I personally commit to holding these events once per quarter, from here on in.

Of course, we get things wrong, who doesn’t? Certainly, nobody I’ve ever met.

I am, however, wise enough to know and understand that mistakes often make the headlines.

While I absolutely recognise that on-field performances and results are of paramount importance and need to improve, as a seven days a week club, we do so much more than play rugby league.

We do an immense amount of good work in supporting charities and local communities.

That’s something I’m immensely proud of and will continue to champion.

Believe me, it’s something sponsors and perspective sponsors are keen to discuss, understand and be associated with.

The level of expectation here at the Bulls is huge and undoubtedly, we are judged against where the club was 20 years ago.

As a team, many of whom are volunteers, we have resolutely tried to retain all aspects of being a potential Super League club, but without the revenues that go with it.

That’s a tremendously difficult task.

We fought to have our academy licence reinstated, because we are fiercely proud of our proven track record in developing and producing quality young players.

We are also immensely proud of our women’s, wheelchair, physical disability and learning disability rugby league teams and all the great work our Bradford Bulls Foundation do in managing and supporting these teams.

Our biggest, most critical, aspiration is to finally deliver a fit for purpose, 21st century stadium for supporters to stay dry and comfortable in.

The original deadline for submission for the Levelling Up Bid was July 7.

Although this has slipped slightly, for reasons out of our control, we remain excited by the work and the plans that the local authority have for this area of Bradford, to renew and regenerate the city’s southern corridor.

So, to our loyal supporters, I kindly and respectfully ask for your continued and appreciated patience and support, at what is a crucial time, commercially and otherwise, for our club.

Everyone at the club is aware of the stakes and my team, our volunteers and I, are working tirelessly, each and every week, to try and deliver all our collective hopes and dreams, for you, the fans of our great club.

There is plenty going on and it is going to be a big three months, with plenty of challenges, but we’re more than up for that, so please support us, by supporting us.