BULLS might still have to go up via the play-offs after the RFL confirmed there will be only one automatic spot from League One this season.

Following the vote being passed to scrap the Super 8s this morning, details have now been released of how next year's Championship and League One will be structured.

The Betfred Championship format expands to a 14-team competition in 2019 with all teams playing each other once home and away, plus Summer Bash, ending with a play-off series for the top five teams with the winner promoted to Super League, and relegation for the bottom two clubs.

To get to a 14-team Championship at the end of this current season, two teams from Betfred League One will be promoted.

As has always been planned this season, the team finishing top of League One - currently York City Knights - will be automatically promoted.

It had been proposed that two teams would go straight up if the restructuring plans got the green light - but that is now not the case.

Teams two to five will play semi-finals with the winners of the Promotional Final being promoted. The final place in the Betfred Championship for 2019 will be decided by a Play-off Final between the team that finishes bottom of the Championship Shield and the loser of the Promotional Final.

Bulls currently occupy second spot in League One, trailing the Knights by two points with two games to go but with a much superior points difference.

It means if things remain as they are at the end of the regular campaign, Bulls will have two shots at clinching promotion, providing they win their play-off semi-final.

Betfred League One will consist of 12 teams playing each other home and away with the top team automatically promoted. Teams two to six will play-off to decide the second team to be promoted.

The revisions follow substantial discussions within all levels of the professional game, led by the Rugby Football League.

Ralph Rimmer, Chief Executive, The Rugby Football League; “As we have seen this season, the Betfred Championship and League One are strong, vibrant and highly entertaining competitions.

"We want to see both competitions continue to appeal to Rugby League fans and attract new ones. We have secured guaranteed promotion and relegation to Super League. It is vital that aspiring clubs, players, owners and fans can see their path to the top.

"We want to ramp up how we build value in Championship and League One. This means more marketing and promotion including major focus games; streaming more games as part of a wider digital strategy – already underway with the streaming of Betfred League One games exclusively to Our League members; and working with broadcasters to bring these competitions to a wider audience. It also means focusing the investment where it delivers the greatest return for the sport.

"We need to now draw a line under the last period and focus on this together as we head to a home World Cup in 2021 and all the opportunity this brings to our clubs and communities.”