Bradford Bulls chairman Chris Caisley today moved to reassure supporters that the club is still remain top of his agenda.

However, he added in the light of the Bulls' decision to take over Wakefield RUFC: "To stand still is not a realistic option for us.

"We therefore need to diversify, while at the same time ensuring that we do not stray too far from our core rugby league activity.

"For that reason, it is possible that in due course the new stadium development may involve us in other ventures which, similarly, may not be of a rugby league nature in order to either grow our business or benefit the running of the stadium.

"However, rugby league and a strategy to do our best to remain at the top of the sport is and will always be of vital importance to the club and, importantly, to our supporters, without whom the Bulls would not be the force we are today.

"Another factor in our decision is the fact that it is no secret that we have been very unhappy with recent decisions by the RFL and the Super League in relation to player development.

"This has had, and will in the future, have severe repercussions for clubs and players and has made it extremely difficult for us to fully engage a whole raft of players who are or may become ineligible to play for the club.

"This deal will help us retain such players instead of having no option but to force them to find work elsewhere.

"We also considered our dissatisfaction with the Rugby League scholarship scheme, which has been introduced and which does not fit with the successful strategy which we have had in place for junior player development over the past six or seven years.

"Prior to the scheme coming into force we already had a structure which produced a number of international players.

"We believe that there should be a completely free gangway for young, aspiring players to be able to choose where they wish to receive their rugby education.

"This deal will give us options so far as junior player development is concerned. The deal will also provide access a bigger pool of playing talent.

"The attraction of the Bulls brand will encourage a wider section of young, aspiring rugby players throughout the country who may be interested in playing either code of rugby to choose a career with us."

"In arriving at our decision to proceed with this deal, my fellow directors and I were unanimously of the view that what everyone associated with the club had achieved in the past would still be the springboard for even greater success and that there would be no detraction from the hard work or investment required to achieve our goals in rugby league.

"The Bradford Bulls remains as committed as ever to the future of rugby league, although, obviously, we now wish to do whatever we can to take Wakefield into the rugby union Premiership."