Bradford Bulls chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul revealed the club has so far sold around 4,500 season tickets, as he announced the next phase of a campaign to boost sales will begin next week.

The Odsal legend said the number of tickets sold at the end of an ‘early bird’ special offer – which includes sponsorship tickets – fell short of the Super League club’s target of selling around 5,500-6,000.

But he urged fans to watch out for the second phase of its drive to sell season tickets, saying they represented ‘great value’ during a season which could end with two teams dropping out of Super League under RFL plans to revamp the competition.

“It is lining up to be the most exciting Super League season ever, with all the talk we’re going to lose two Super League teams,” he said.

“This season will be about survival for everyone.

“For six years everyone’s had the padding of the licencing system and everyone’s felt safe. In the past it’s been a case of ticking a lot of corporate boxes.

“But the noises coming out of the RFL are that this could change and that would change the dynamic of the competition completely.”

Mr Hunter-Paul, who joined the club’s management in September, said he believed season ticket sales had been affected because fans were waiting for its new regime to be ratified by the RFL.

The club’s new directors Ryan Whitcut, Mark Moore, Ian Watt and Andrew Calvert – who stepped in when Omar Khan dramatically stood down in September – were given the seal of approval by the sport’s governing body a week before the early bird season ticket deadline.

At a fans’ forum last week, two days before the offer ended on Friday, it was revealed 2,691 season tickets had been sold at that point.

However, he said the early bird offer would not be extended.

“I understand some supporters were waiting for ratification, but the early bird deal is now over and we will draw a line under it,” said Mr Hunter-Paul.

“We’re now moving onto the next phase of selling season tickets, which will offer further incentives for people to sign up.

“We have a massive Bulls supporters’ base out there.

“It’s important from our point of view that people see the value for money they get from season tickets.”

For more information about season tickets, visit bradfordbulls.co.uk or call the ticket office on 08448 711490.