Francis Cummins insists the Bulls will only re-establish themselves as a serious force if every single player buys into what he is trying to achieve.

The Bradford head coach has lost arguably his two most talented home-grown players in Elliott Whitehead and John Bateman during the past six months.

Whitehead jumped ship to Catalan Dragons and Bateman joined Wigan on Friday, with both players having made it clear they no longer wished to play for their home-town club.

Cummins has taken the loss of Bateman in his stride and reiterated that he only wants players who are fully committed to the Bradford cause.

“I’ve said this quite a lot, but if we are going to get this club back to where it was then we’re going to need everybody giving one hundred per cent,” he said.

“The environment and the culture of this club has got to be intact for us to get there.

“It has got to be continually improving now because it only takes one or two players not wanting to be there and it doesn’t happen.

“We are working towards a three to five-year plan of an ultimate team.”

Cummins’ squad begin pre-season training today and the Bulls boss admits he remains on the look-out for further recruits.

Frank Winterstein was signed with Bateman’s departure in mind but Cummins said he could add to his squad again.

“We will look at other options but it depends which players are available,” he explained.

“When I signed Frank, I knew I had a few problems with John and I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go.

“We are always on the look-out to improve the team anyway but there is not an abundance of players out there.

“We’re strong in the back-row area anyway with the likes of Tom Olbison, Dale Ferguson and Danny Addy.”

Cummins added on Bateman’s departure: “Players come and go and that’s something I found during my own playing career.

“We lost Platty (Michael Platt) and Langers (Jamie Langley), who had been at the club for seven and 13 years respectively and really were part of the furniture.

“It’s a clean break for John. He’s not going to be part of what we do now and can go and concentrate on his own career.

“While it is disappointing to lose him, sometimes you’re better off knowing now rather than halfway through a season.”

Meanwhile, Winterstein underwent surgery on Friday on the pectoral injury he sustained during Samoa's World Cup defeat to New Zealand last Sunday.

He will not play again in the tournament as he begins a period of rehabilitation.