Really sorry to read this news, however I wish Mick the very best as he returns back to Australia.

Gained a lot of respect across the rugby circles for how he stayed with the Bulls on no pay reportedly(and all the staff) while you had the troubles, not many coaches would have I suspect.

Yes he was a school friend of my brother and they used to play cricket in the passage between the houses until "Tanker" go too big to fit in it!

Though please note that I am not suggesting, implying or in any other way indicating that his fondness for 2nd breakfast in any way impacts his ability to make the correct decisions for the RFL!

I think the difficulty with 'promotion from within' is far more pronounced when it's a former player of a club who takes over as coach; the transition from mate to boss isn't easy to cross and many don't manage it. Cummins though was never a player at Bradford so I'm not really sure it applies quite as much, though there is also the point that a managing duo may use the 'good cop - bad cop' approach, with the second in command being usually 'good cop', if he then assumes to top role he may find it hard to take on the mantle of 'bad cop' and the obvious changes in relationships involved.

The flaw in that is that I can't imagine MP ever being the 'bad cop', it seems out of character, to be honest. Alsdo at the end of the day Franny came with a good reputation and chances are he is looking for a head coach job, so if he doesn't get the job at Odsal he may well be off to pastures new. Do we want to lose both coaches? Maybe the new guy will come with a ready made no.2? Maybe.....

I noticed that bit as well. Maybe an indication that a decision re: SL status is imminent if their talking about announcing coach next week?

Thank you Mick. A remarkable job under unbelievable conditions. Absolute respect for what you have done for the Bulls.

I think some of the player's he's dropped recently might disagree.

Its almost impossible for fans to gauge how good an assistant coach is. Really you're just going on comments made by their ex boss or a few players. Everyone thought MacNamara would make a great Head Coach.

That was my thinking, I just hope its not actually new owners putting too much faith in rfl timings!

"end of this week" was mentioned by the rfl for outlining the process of picking our fate, so unless its a quick process (how unlikely!?)....or a done deal (either way)....its hard to see how we could announce a coach next week. [iUnless [/ithe new coach is wiling to work in any league for us, just to get a head coach position? With the final renumeration to be determined once we know our fate.

Having said what I did, Andy Hay has got 2 gigs as no.2 & I am not sure he can even speak, so WTF do I know?

Andy Hay was a decent second row, but as is often said, being a good player is no guide to being a good manager/coach.

You don't have to be a top player to be a top coach. Sir Peter Fox being a great example. In the modern game neither Brian or Tony Smith ammounted to much either.

The thing they had was a real strength of personality. I thought Potter had a presence too, not as much as Fox, but he had it. He certainly has more of it than McNamara. I fear Cummins is more in the McNamara mould - probably knows his stuff but lacks that ability to inspire. I'm only basing this on a few interviews I've heard on the radio so I could be talking out of my Harris. After all being good in front of a microphone is one thing but being a successful coach is another.

Andy Hay had a heart made of straw!

I think you should bring Noble on board, even if only for a year and then give FC a chance! Putting FC in the hot seat now with a reduced squad and what will probabaly be an unsettled team could break him. Best if he takes his first head coach job after things are more settled. Just my opinion that is!!

I'm not sure Cummins is the answer. He just doesn't look like the gaffer. He's another McNamara in my opinion, he has the air of being one of the lads. I once saw McNamara give a press conference while sucking a Chupa Chups lollipop...told me all I needed to know about him - absolutely no gravitas whatsoever.

With the current state of uncertainty how would you attract anyone to coach the team unless they have a strong masochist tendencies?

Do McNamara's efforts moulding an effective England saard make up for his domestic failings?



He's arguably done a better job than Tony Smith as England coach since relinquishing the white board and felt tips to another assistant. Perhaps he has learnt from his time at Bradford???

What about other candidates Paul Deacon and Jimmy Lowes

I'd suggest, with our one year reprieve, a safety first approach is required with a motivator needed to get the best from, what may not be, the best squad we've seen.

Classy player, classy coach and most importantly classy Person! Thank you mick for everything! Your name will always be etched into our history!

Once again thank you!

Thank you Mick Potter, you will forever be remembered by the Bradford Bulls.

On the new coach, looks like Noble (After hearing interviews from him, i genuinely think he has the clubs best interests at heart)

Cummings isn't ready, been an assistant and the top man is completely different, he needs to gain experience in the championship.

Regarding the issues of "promotion from within " and "ex players" as coaches --- Elliot and Noble were not too shoddy and were promoted from assistant, Potter was an ex Bulls assistant and Noble was an ex Northern player

what about d powell

Nobby was an ex Northern player, that's true but there was a sizeable gap between him playing and coaching the club, If memory serves he finished his playing career at Wakefield and started his coaching there too, then had a spell in Australia with Jack Gibson before returning to Bradford under Brian Smith and finally being handed the reins after the departure of Matty Elliott. I can't speak for others but my thoughts on promotion from within were on the basis of 'promotion from the shop floor to the office', a situation where you are mates with the people you have to rule over; I doubt any of Nobby's former team mates were still at the club when he took over as head coach, so that didn't really arise.

Fair point-- there was a significant gap between playing and coaching. However that comment of mine was meant as an aside -- the main argument I tried to get across was to disagree with those who said promoting from assistant to head coach was necessarily flawed. Elliot and Noble came through the ranks-- and yes so did Steve Mc. So there is no golden rule.
As regards Francis Cummins I know that Mick Potter is a far better judge than I . It's unlikely to be just loyalty that prompted him to recommend his assistant.
The quotes from Mick P in today's T & A do suggest that there is no bad feeling between him and the new owners. From that we can be confident that they will treat other staff and players with respect.

From hearing OK and GS Talking about MP, there is clearly nothing but goodwill between all the parties. OK indeed comes across as a pretty uplifting and positive guy, and both he and GS are so obviously very passionate about the club and it's future. Definite reasons to be positive there.

For my own part, I wish Mick had stayed but can fully understand why he was worn out with it all. If he thinks Frannie Cummins is the man for the job, I am not about to argue against that. And, from all I hear, FC conducted himself with absolute honour and integrity throughout all this horrid period. I am unsure that be said of certain other possible candidates?

Another reason for going with FC is that he's ambitious and known to be wanting a head coach role, so if he's overlooked, it might mean we'll need two new coaches if he goes elsewhere. As you say Potter's judgement has to be respected; he's worked with the guy and knows him.

And it's not as if he's being just thrust into it, he's served a long apprentiship under 3 quality coaches. I think he's ready.