Former Bulls favourite Steve McNamara is returning to Odsal next season - but as a coach rather than a player.

The loose forward, who is 32 next month, has helped Huddersfield Giants establish themselves as a force in Super League this season with victories over Leeds, Wigan and St Helens.

The Giants captain has also been their assistant coach this campaign.

McNamara, who was obviously touched by his reception from the Bulls fans when Huddersfield played at Odsal earlier this month, said: "I am delighted to be joining a club that is so close to my heart."

The former England and Great Britain player added: "I feel so comfortable with everyone at the club and it is a massive opportunity for me to start my coaching career at a club of Bradford's stature and work with such an elite group of athletes.

"I am looking forward to it immensely."

Bulls head coach Brian Noble said: "I am delighted to have been able add the services of Steve to my coaching team for next season.

"I tried to bring him back to the club last year but he wanted another season as a player.

"He is a great thinker about the game and he has ambitions to coach at the top level and will greatly enhance our coaching set-up next season."

McNamara, who joined the Bulls from Hull in April 1996, is one of the most popular players of the modern era.

Following seven years at The Boulevard, he played at Odsal until the end of the 1999 season before joining Wakefield. After two seasons there he helped Huddersfield dominate in their Northern Ford Premiership promotion-winning season of 2002, during which he was nominated as NFP Player of the Year.

And McNamara, forever associated with his theme tune Hey Macarena (sung to the words Hey McNamara), showed recently he has still got what it takes on the field with a masterly display as the Giants defeated Hull 30-14.

The arrival of McNamara could precipitate a changing of roles within the Bulls' coaching set-up.

Bernard Dwyer has been in charge of the Junior Academy team this season while assistant coach Phil Veivers has looked after the under-21s.

Meanwhile, junior season-ticket holders are reminded for the Wigan match that they must exchange their voucher in their season-ticket booklet for a ticket at the Odsal ticket office, or they will not be allowed into the JJB Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.