Bulls chairman Chris Caisley says the club needs average gates of around 15,000 to remain among the elite in the British game.

The Bulls supremo was highly critical of the stay-away fans after a crowd of 9,663 - the club's lowest in Super League for two years - turned out to see last Wednesday's win over Warrington Wolves at Valley Parade.

But answering questions on his previous comments at a fans forum at the Cedar Court Hotel last night Caisley, pictured below, insisted: "I stand by what I said and I was also disappointed that by the time our players got their medals at Twicken-ham large numbers of our fans had already left the stadium.

"I accept the team did not play well on the day but there was no lack of effort and I thought they deserved better from some of our fans.

"I do understand that financially after Twickenham the Warrington game was a problem for some fans but, had we been parading the cup, I feel sure we would have been pushing the 20,000 mark.

"The reality is that we need to average 14,000-15,000 if we are to hold on to the present squad and keep on improving it."

Asked whether he felt Kiwi ace Henry Paul would sign a new deal with the Bulls when his current deal runs out at the end of the season Caisley responded: "I am optimistic he will be with us next year."

Caisley also stressed, to an audience of about 100, that the club were still on course to return to a re-developed Odsal Stadium for the start of the 2003 season despite concerns that building work had still not begun.

"The building period for the stadium is one year and provided we can put some of the fine detail to bed in the next four or five months I see no reason why we can't meet that timescale.

"We are working hard behind the scenes to bring the right package together and hopefully we will have some good news on the project over the next few days."

Bulls coach Brian Noble will make another check on his injury-hit squad today but the early signs are that Aussie back-rower Daniel Gartner will be back to bolster side for tomorrow night's big West Yorkshire derby with Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.

Gartner limped off with ankle trouble in the home win over Warrington and missed the visit to Castleford on Saturday.

But coach Brian Noble said: "Danny is progressing well and should be back and Shane Rigon still has a chance too."

Scrum half Paul Deacon is also expected to return to the bench after missing the win over the Tigers with stitches in a nasty eye wound.

"We were just worried that Paul couldn't protect the injury against Cas' but it shouldn't be a problem this week," added Noble.

Centre Scott Naylor, another absentee at the weekend with hamstring trouble, is also hoping to be back in contention although he faces stiff competition for a place from Graham Mackay who has made a big impression in his two appearances since his move from Leeds Tykes.

The Bulls Alliance side attempt to make it seven wins out of seven when they take on Leeds at Odsal tonight (7.30pm).