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Rohan Smith leaves Bradford as Andrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe take charge

General view of Odsal Stadium, home of Bradford Bulls
Image: Bradford's new rugby league team will be New Zealand-backed

Rohan Smith has left his position as Bradford coach following a meeting with the reformed club's new owners Andrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe.

New Zealanders Chalmers and Lowe announced on Tuesday they had beaten off competition to take over the running of a team in the West Yorkshire city, with the previous incarnation of the Bradford Bulls having been liquidated earlier this month.

And within a few hours the new regime revealed a "new proven and experienced coach" is being sought following a meeting with Smith.

Chalmers said: "There were various points both parties disagreed on and it was decided the club and the former coach of Bradford Bulls would not move forward together."

Lowe, a former Wigan and New Zealand coach, said: "I know it has been a tough few months for Rohan. We appreciate all he did.

"We are focused on bringing in a new proven and experienced coach as soon as possible and that recruitment process is under way. We expect to provide an update shortly."

Bradford have been given the go-ahead to compete in the Kingstone Press Championship this season but they will start with a 12-point deduction and have lost a number of players to other clubs already.

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Chalmers, a former chairman of New Zealand Rugby League, said in a statement: "I am delighted we have been given the opportunity to create what we hope will be a strong and stable club in Bradford. The history and tradition of rugby league in this great city is something we are both aware of.

"We are under no illusion to the enormity of the task ahead of us and that it is our job to win the trust of supporters and deliver a club they are proud of.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 17:  Former Kiwi coach and now commentator Graham Lowe prepares  for the round one NRL match between the Warriors and the Par
Image: Graham Lowe is part of the team behind a new rugby league team in Bradford

"One of our first commitments to the RFL was that all season tickets for the 2017 season that have already been purchased by Bulls supporters would be honoured by the new club.

"A lot of work is required in a short space of time and we anticipate a lot of exciting announcements to follow in the coming days and weeks."

And Lowe added: "We do not see this as a quick fix and we will work through the immediate issue of offering full-time playing contracts to the team.

"This is expected to be accomplished in the next 48 hours and following that we will look at bolstering the squad as necessary to replace those players who have secured contracts elsewhere."

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