[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/9928842.Potter_waves_goodbye_to_Bradford_Bulls/potter back to oz[/url

Thanks for all the hard work and effort above and beyond mick. A true Bradford legend.

Thanks and good luck.

[urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9928842.Potter_waves_goodbye_to_Bradford_Bulls/[/url

be interesting who they announce as head coach next week, bearing in mind Micks comments after catalans game and his endorsement of FC.Thanks for everything you've done in last two years Mick and best wishes.

Shame he couldn't finish the job he started. I just hope the new board have learned a lesson from the previous board and don't go for someone untried at SL level.

Assuming we're still AT SL level next season

It's good he's showing loyalty to his former assistance, however I don't think FC has enough experience, yet, to make the step up to head coach of a SL level. We've seen what hiring an inexperienced coach can do to a club.

Why 2 identical threads on such an upsetting subject????

I am sure every Bulls fan will agree that he will always be admired and respected-- dare I say loved. Personally I hope that the Council will see fit to honour him as a Freeman of Bradford.If Mick reads this site-- many thanks for a superb job and such a dignified approach in the midst of chaos.
I am pleased that the new owners tried to keep him-- the quotes from Mick and OK Bulls give the lie to the rumour (aired on last week's Backchat ) that they were only offering 50% salary.
I think his advice to appoint Francis Cummins should be taken. It would be good for the game as a whole to have another British coach and , more selfishly, I suspect that it may be a key factor in retaining some of our current players. Continuity and loyalty are important attributes.
The pessimist in me fears that this might be the first announcement of a Bulls Black Friday. The promised announcement by the League is due and today is seen as a deadline day for our contracted players.
By the way , there has been some speculation regarding the TUPE regs and the ability of players to opt out of a transfer. I do not think there is a 14 day deadline in the Act itself but rather that a case has been decided which suggests this time as reasonable. So it might be case law and "precedent" rather than the Act itself which will be used. Not sure-- so if our legal experts can confirm or correct me, I'd be grateful (and humble!)

PS Agree with Tackler-- can the administrators combine the threads please?

Very disappointing, if not totally surprising news. The job Mick did for the Bulls was outstanding, and doubly so in the circumstances this year. 10 out of 10 for his dignified and professional manner and they way he managed to build a competitive team again at Odsal. If it hadn't been for the points deduction we would have safely qualified for the play offs this year.

So the white knuckle ride continues: league status as yet unknown, top coach left, several key players already gone, no replacements lined up that we know of. How can you launch the season ticket round and expect it to be a success with so much uncertainty? If I had much hair left I would be pulling out!

I disagree, I think now is Franicis' time, he's done 7 years as an assitant, all behind 3 top quality coaches in Smith, McLennan and Potter. My only worry about Franny is he wont have the contacts down under like Mick did to unearth gems like Lulia. Saying that though he will have Mick down under.

Fully agree with this - young British coaches need clubs to take a chance on them and i would have no problems with FC appointed as head coach.

Edit: Just wanted to add - Thanks Mick for all you have done over the past 2 years. Last year was tough, with little rewards on the pitch but this year has seen us compete in SL with a very competitive side. Also taking into account the financial side of things, I think you have acted in such a professional/honorable way, for which i am extremely grateful.

All the best for the future to a Bradford Bulls Legend!

I agree I think we should keep FC. If we are looking at our other coaching staff they need to look at St HIllaire the defensive coach! for me he has had enough time to prove his self and to be honest hasn`t cut the mustard. Maybe has as been said Nobby in as a director of coaching.
Like everybody else I think it`s a sad day that Mick is leaving, under horrible circumstances he has done miracles, thanks Mick a true hero.

My fear about FC is that he's too much like SM. A likable bloke who was never quite tough enough as a player.

Maybe you are right, what about Jimmy as his asssistant? to replace LSH

Maybe he could bring somebody like Barrie McD in alongside him.

Iestyn Harris anybody?

If Leeds lose on saturday it could be Brian McD!!!!

Well, I think you can blame Guilfoyle for that one.....

Guilfoyle treated him with absolutely no respect.

Had Potter been kept on the payroll (even on reduced terms) I think his outlook may have been slightly different at this point. It seems that Mick has decided enough is enough. Not sure how hard Messers Khan and Sutcliffe really tried to keep him, but his decision is made.

I commend Mick's loyalty to his staff, but I've got visions of McNamara and Noble with the possible handover to Cummins. Hopefully if Franny takes over he will succeed, but he'll have one hell of a job on. At this point as unpopular as it may be in some circles, Nobby might be needed for a couple of years of stability and guidance before Franny was to take over. However, I can see Franny jumping ship if he doesn't get the top job, as isn't that pretty much the reason he left Leeds? His path was blocked by at least 1 maybe 2 individuals for the top job.

Thanks Mick - you've conducted yourself superbly and the view that many people had of you has had to be changed (outside the Bulls). All the best for the future.

I always been under the impression, perhaps falsely, that Brian Smith was responsible for a lot of our contacts in Aus.

Got to say the news hit me right in the stomach with that sinking feeling. I guess I knew it was always likely but it hit just the same. The debt we owe MP is immense imo and I obviously wish him, and Megan, all the best back in Aus. If ever Australia needs a new ambassador they couldn't do better than Michael Potter.

Look at timing of posts. Me and duckman were typing at pretty much same time. A mod will merge threads when they get online.

Yeah quite possible.
Franny went over to Aus too so I might be jumping the gun a bit.

Know what you mean about a black Friday feeling. Hopefully this is only bad news and their getting it out the way now before starting with good news announcements. We live in hope!.

But would FC want the job if we are not in SL?

Another one of those little loose ends at the moment.

I hear Brian Smith is unemployed, we could do no worse than appointing him to mentor Franny for a while, funds permitting.

Well huge thanks to Mick Potter for holding things together this season. Such a shame he's gone just as things were starting to bear fruit. Now it looks like we'll have to start from scratch again. Just hope we get a decision on what division we're in asap.

As for Mick's successor, I hope the board has been thinking about this for some time. It may be that personal loyalty between the coaching staff has coloured the judgement here. The coded message from Potter about hoping the job didn't go to certain individuals who had been involved in the past (Noble obviously) was interesting. The board won't want to risk losing the dressing room by appointing the wrong man, similarly they won't want to let emotion take over and employ someone purely on the basis that he was loyal to Potter.

It's a tough decision. Personally I'd like to see a totally fresh start with a young coach that is forward thinking, up to the minute who can command the respect of the players. If we lose a load more players then the argument for keeping Cummins starts to look weaker, as there'll be fewer of the current squad around. I'm not that enthusiastic about Noble, who's been out of things for a while. His heart may be in the job but he could alienate certain players and staff if he parachutes back in.

A third option would be interesting. Who's available? We're not rolling in cash so the likes of Craig Bellamy won't be coming. For similar reasons I'd say Brian Smith won't be either. What we need is the equivilent of a Brian Smith circa 1995/6.

Of course if we're not in SL this is all academic.

All seems a bit odd.
Did he not say a few days ago he would love to stay and finish the job.
So why the sudden change of mind in the space of a few days.
Does he know something which is not in the public domain,or was the offer from the new owners well below his previous remuneration package.