BRADFORD Bulls learnt the hard way about the potential unsustainability of chasing glory, says John Kear.

The head coach also emphasised the importance of youth in building a solid foundation for future Super League success.

Bulls were liquidated at the start of 2017 after years of financial turmoil.

They reformed in time to take a spot in the Championship that year, but with a 12-point deduction.

That deficit proved too much and the fall from grace was complete as Bulls dropped into League One.

Since then, progress has been made and Kear has steered the historic rugby league side back into the Betfred Championship.

There is often much malign about the discrepancy between some clubs in the division.

The likes of Toronto and Toulouse are well funded, while Bulls' next opponents, Leigh, went out and signed Jordan Thompson from Hull FC in the week.

But, the Odsal outfit wouldn't have it any other way.

Kear said: "I think we at Bradford have learned that you don't just go out and act on a whim and the click of a finger.

"You've got to be sustainable in your progression and that's what we're trying to do.

"Should that mean we are a young team and we look to youth, well so be it.

"But they're ours and we're growing them and we're developing them.

"It gives you extra pride as well.

"But that's not to say that should the right person come up for the right salary, that we wouldn't go and have a dig for them.

"At the minute we're more concerned about getting Joe Keyes, Jy Hitchcox and Rhys Evans back out onto the field.

"Because that certainly would improve us massively."

The youthful exuberance of Bulls has won them plenty of admirers and has given them an identity in the post-liquidation era.

That hunger to succeed and fight for your local side is something that is pivotal to Kear as a coach.

He added:"The young men who've played this year have been tremendous.

"The thing is, when you're at that age you're going to get better.

"Whereas when you're at the latter end of your career, that isn't the case.

"You do need experience and you do need some people to guide the young men about.

"But I think you're better being youthfully-weighted for long term success.

"Rather than immediate short-term success and when you've got that success you're looking round thinking well what do we do next."

Such a sustainable approach means Bulls won't really need to look elsewhere for financial support if, or rather when, they make it to the promised land, says Kear.

He said: "Should we manage to get in the play-offs, should we manage to get in the Super League in the near future, we know full well we've got the foundations of a Super League team that we're growing within our own boundaries.

"So it won't need ridiculous investment from outside in order for us to progress."