STEVE Ferres admits the Bulls are constantly scouring the market for new players which could give the club’s promotion hopes a major boost.

Jimmy Lowes’ men have struggled to find their top form in recent outings, culminating in a humiliating home defeat at the hands of part-timers Featherstone on Wednesday.

A number of squad players have been sent out on loan and others are injured, leaving managing director Ferres to cast the net out for potential new recruits.

Ferres said: “The squad is fluid and we’re always looking to improve what we’ve got.

“We know we’ve got deficiencies in certain areas and we’re not naive enough to think we haven’t.

“We’ll look to address it and improve the squad as we move along, but it is always evolving anyway.

“We would like to think that if there are players available at the right price and the right calibre then we will be in the market for them and will make a decision as to what we do.

“We are working to get the squad to where it needs to be to give us a chance in the play-offs.”

Seventeen new players have arrived at Odsal since the end of last season but a number of men are currently sidelined, including key playmaker Lee Gaskell.

Epalahame Lauaki is ruled out of tomorrow’s trip to Hunslet while fellow prop Karl Davies is also sidelined by injury and unlikely to play this season.

As the Bulls search for reinforcements at home and abroad, Ferres said clubs were reluctant to let players go to their rivals.

“Getting them out of clubs who are either competing for promotion or fighting to stay up means the market isn’t as fluid as it was last year,” he explained.

“It’s fair to say we are not just trawling this country but we are also looking abroad at what’s available.

“We’re trying to get to a position where we need to be as strong as we can and there’s no doubt about, we want to be a bit stronger as it stands.

“There is no panic in the situation because we know where we are at and where we want to be. We’ve got to find out what is available out there.”

Ferres also accepted that that Bulls must up their game considerably if they are to challenge for promotion in the promotion-deciding Super Eights.

Jake Mullaney is back in the 19-man squad for tomorrow’s game at the expense of Adam Henry, while Etu Uaisele will hope for a recall on the wing.

Ferres added: “It’s fair to say that James, myself and the players are not happy with the way things have gone over the last few weeks.

“Although we have been winning, we’ve not been winning how we have wanted to win.

“However, there have been a few injuries which have disturbed the squad, particularly in the halves.

“But we still won 17 consecutive games so there is no reason to panic.

“We’ve got our backsides slapped on Wednesday night, but it’s all about how we react to that now because we’ve got some tough games coming up.

“We play Hunslet, Sheffield, Leigh and Halifax, with three of those sides in and around the top four.

“Those matches will be ideal preparation for the Super Eights, so we’re going to know a lot more about our players.

“I still maintain that we haven’t played our best team yet this season because of injuries.

“It has been a tough time since Gaskell got injured but we’re aware of what we need to do and I think the players are as well.”