Francis Cummins named new Bradford Bulls head coach

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Leaguecomments31

Bradford Bulls have appointed Francis Cummins as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

The former Leeds winger, 35, served as an assistant to Mick Potter for the past two years.

Cummins, who was recommended for the job by Potter, will become the youngest head coach in Super League.

"We had no hesitation in taking Mick's recommendation to offer Francis the job and we are delighted he accepted," said Bulls chairman Gerry Sutcliffe.

Potter, who is returning to his native Australia, had been working for free, as had Cummins, at Odsal since July as the club battled to avoid liquidation.

He rejected a fresh contract offered by the club's new owners.

Bradford faced extinction earlier this summer after being hit with a winding-up order over unpaid tax.

But the club's financial future was secured after businessman Omar Khan led a consortium to buy the club from administrators in August.

That takeover was ratified by the Rugby Football League last week.

Former Great Britain international Cummins, who also represented Ireland, spent his entire club career with Leeds Rhinos, where he was later an assistant coach before moving to Bradford in 2010.

When Super League resumes in February, Cummins will be the youngest coach in the competition as Catalan Dragons boss Trent Robinson, who is nine months younger, is leaving for the NRL.

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31 comments

  • @3

    I have to say that I am surprised they have stayed in SL - given that it was
    rumoured that the majority of other clubs wanted them kicking out.

    Next season sees the return of relegation so maybe a 20pt deduction at
    the start of the new season will sort things out.

  • Doesn't matter if they do or don't Ryo. The Bulls can always borrow the money and then go into administration so they don't have to pay it back.
    Nobody will mind and the RFL will always be there to ensure they don't go into liquidation.

  • I doubt if anyone would have taken it without a lot of assurances. Good luck to him, he might well need it.

  • Congratulations Mr Cummings on your appointment as head coach of Bradford Bulls. I just hope the RFL pay your wages every month on time!

  • Luck Francis
    Your gonna need it !!!!!!!!
    Although Bradford find themselves in a very lucky position more so than Halifax, Crusaders, Bramley yeah yeah yeah the old sob story worked you'll be fighting relegation next year when several of your top players have gone.
    Its ok bringing in youth but you need men to back them up and if like most when the money drys up so will the foreign talent.

  • Most RL fans feel part of the RL community & have respect for others within the sport. Cant believe some people actually think that Soccer Authorities in a game where players cant even shake hands, supporters send parcels bombs to managers of other clubs, sing sick & racist chants & are incapable of holding a minutes silence anymore should be portrayed as having some moral standards in the way act

  • All this bickering is detracting from the fact that this is great news for Cummins, Bradford Bulls and the game of Rugby League (the fact that a British coach is being given a chance).
    Bradford Bulls are in Super League next season, and this can only be a good thing.
    Good luck to the club and their new manager.
    Fans of certain clubs always seem to be bitter for some reason.

  • Already put you right re your incorrect facts about salary cap & wages. Just making the same allegations again doesn't make them true it just show you to be the foolish one. Re the ground The RFL paid less than the market value for it and now want more to sell it back! The Bulls have to pay same rent whichever div they were in. The RFL cant lose

  • @19

    Seriously, do you think its fair that the RFL who own your ground, and then its the RFL who have the final say in wether you stay in SL or not is fair? Its like a homeowner evicting themselves! Like I pointed out in a previous post, about wages etc, get your facts right before going off on one, all that happens is you make yourself look a little foolish!

  • Ryo.True RFL did pay the august SKY money early,but advancing money is not the same as giving money. Andy the RFL bought the lease very cheaply,the bulls then had no assets which, so the bank called in the overdraft which led to administration. The RFL then put conditions on anyone wishing to invest & prolonged the whole process making things worse!

  • what is bradfordbronco talking about rugby league did not pay any wages or they did not go over the salary cap . if not wheres all the money gone on . rugby league bailed you out with money from stadium, and thats why you stayed in the league . becouse if you were kick out nobody would of taken the club on , so that wouldnt of been a bad thing , start up a fresh again.............. one big joke

  • @19 & 20

    The RFL DID give BB an advance on players wages, thats a fact, and as for being a troll or an armchair fan, what a classic coming from a cougar! The name says it all!!!

  • @20. If SLE can't survive the loss of one club with circa 10K supporeters then the game is indeed in poor shape. What do you think the impact of the loss of Rangers is on the Scottish Premiership - but they had the courage of their convictions. The administration / liquidation excuse is flawed as well as only the RFL prevented the Bulls going into liquidation.

  • Glad an english caoch is getting a chance but bradford should not be in super league. The RLF twisted the rules to keep them alive and as a governing body i am disgraced by them.

  • Whilst I agree that Cummins is an appointment that will only be proven over time let's get behind him as he has also gone through the season with the uncertainty of the situation hanging over his head. To all those who say Bradford are cheats I would say look at your own clubs and ask yourselves are you really sticking to the salary cap rules or do you bend them - Warrington, St H, Wigan etc?

  • Top bloke, nice to see him get a high-profile job. In his playing days, he was always the last one out on the field applauding both sets of fans.

    Ryo - either a troll or an armchair fan. Had Bradford dropped out of the super league there would have been a significant effect on the entire league, potentially catastrophic in long run. Missing out on play-offs was a proportionate&sufficient penalty

  • Tom, have the RFL paid your players wages? The answer is yes, that is where the Bulls are totally out of order, in fact id class it as cheating.Simples.

  • No Ryo, my comment was to defend my team from rabid conspiracy theories that somehow believe the Bulls robbed the SL, or specific teams. Show me where we took money from Widnes? Other than money donated to the club from decent League fans, who understand that no club is immune from bad management. That's gone, why shouldn't we be allowed to move on like Wakefield and rebuild?

  • The Bulls have not received a single penny towards next year wages. In fact they are due to receive less Sky money than all the other clubs next year.They didn't receive any extra money from RFL this year. The £100,000 per month the RFL 'gave' to the Bulls was their share of the Sky money (£1.25m) which all clubs including Widnes received.BTW Thanks to the Widnes club & the fans who did back us.

  • I take it you are trying to wind people up with the comment of who have BB's cheated!! Try every other team in SL for starters. My team Widnes got nowt off the RFL, you lot have had wages and next years funding brought forward.......one rule for one, one for another!

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