EX Bradford Bulls player Stuart Fielden thinks it will be tough for clubs below the top division to get back playing while they are still missing out on revenue from gate receipts.

Bradford are finally back in training after eight months out but it is still unknown when a resumption of competitive rugby will take place at their level.

Fielden won it all during his eight-years at Odsal. Three Super Leagues, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups were captured in Bulls' golden period of the early noughties.

Although, the option of streaming games is being explored, the former prop knows the money generated through supporters being in stadia is the main source of income in the second tier and without it clubs would struggle to function.

He said: "The clubs have to run off something. Even though, there was furlough, that has come to an end so who knows. It is not just rugby league that is suffering, it is the world.

"Championship clubs rely on crowds which are not even the biggest, some of the smaller clubs may only have 300-400, but that is the life blood of the club so in effect not having a crowd means they can not play the games.

"It is going to be unlikely (they can play) until they can sort out the crowds. How does anyone expect to run the clubs financially? It is just not going to happen."

When matters do get going again on the pitch, Fielden thinks Bradford will be desperate to gain promotion in a bid to return to past glories.

John Kear has been busy building his 2021 squad. The likes of Wakefield Wildcats legend Danny Brough and Huddersfield Giants star Aaron Murphy have been brought in on two-year deals, while he has maintained the majority of players who signed up to this year's cancelled campaign.

Fielden has full confidence that Kear is the right man to steer the ship but feels the challenge ahead is huge.

He said: "In every single sport finance is the biggest part. Look at football in the lower leagues there is less money and in the best leagues there are more.

"In modern life, money does dictate the best players you can buy and the amount of talent you can have.

"He (Kear) has been doing that (recruiting well) for a few years.

"A strong Super League, always had a strong Bradford.

"Sometimes clubs throw the kitchen sink at it to earn the money, parachute payments and the different in class and players.

"Getting out of the Championship has got to be the hardest division to get out of. It is so closely fought and it seems harder to get out of there then it does to stay in the Super League."

Ex president Colin Tordoff, who sadly died last month, was an ever-present in the club's aforementioned heyday.

Fielden added: "He used to come on the bus and be at the events. He was always pleasant.

"I would speak to him, but I didn’t know him that well.

"It was 10 years of success, so it was not the worse time to be at Bradford."