STEVE Ferres is leading calls for the Bulls to have the same dispensation in the salary cap for a marquee player as Super League clubs.

Top flight sides voted 8-4 at Wednesday's annual meeting to introduce the rule, which will allow clubs to count only £100,000 of a nominated player's wage as part of their £1.8million salary cap from 2016.

That rises to £175,000 if the player has not come through their own ranks, but the rule has attracted vehement criticism from the likes of Castleford, Huddersfield and Wakefield after they voted against it.

Castleford chief executive Steve Gill fears it will widen the gap between the top five clubs and the rest of Super League.

Huddersfield managing director Richard Thewlis went even further, claiming: “It creates an uneven playing field as only two or three of the richest clubs will be able to afford to take advantage of it.”

But Ferres insists the onus is on clubs to deliver greater income and claimed the Bulls should be recognised for the revenue they generate in the second tier.

The Bulls’ managing director said: “If there is a marquee-player rule in Super League then it should be available to Championship clubs provided they can demonstrate their ability to generate the income to pay for it.

“By the end of this season, I think we will have generated more income than at least two Super League clubs.

“By default, you would think that we should be allowed the same benefit and that the marquee-player rule should count for Championship clubs too.

“Now whether they put the same value on it I don’t know, but we’re going to go into Super Eights and, like I’ve said all along, it’s going to be a mammoth task.

“All the Championships clubs are so far away financially from the Super League sides that it’s frightening.

“To get to the next level, the investment in players needs to be there.

“If this new rule is a real opportunity for getting teams to be in a position to complete on a level playing field, we need to find a system, structure or financial route which allows for the Championship clubs too.

“Provided the Championship clubs can generate the relevant income to match their Super League counterparts, then they shouldn’t be denied it.

“I will be requesting that the Rugby Football League assess the situation for Championship clubs and the impact it will have on them.”

The huge disparity in the game is underlined by the fact that Super League clubs received £1.6million in central distribution this year and can spend up to £1.825million on the salary cap.

There is a £1million salary cap in the Championship this season and the Bulls will receive over £750,000 in central distribution.

But the bulk of the Championship teams are part-time and spend nowhere near the salary cup.

Ferres acknowledged: “It’s obvious that not many clubs in the Championship could afford a marquee player and it would be financial suicide to give them that spending power without the revenue to fund it.

“But at Bradford we are operating a business which to all intents and purposes is being run as if we were playing in Super League – and the only difference being that we’re doing it on £800,000 less.

“The likes of ourselves and Leigh are working hard, being innovative and are effectively preparing ourselves to play at a higher level.

“If we can generate the crowds and the income, then it can’t be right that we should be denied it (marquee-player), particularly as Bradford are generating more money than some clubs in Super League.”