Departing Bradford Bulls boss Matthew Elliott today expressed his delight at the news that Brian Noble will succeed him in the Odsal hot seat.

And if he does go on to taste success, Elliott hopes his right-hand man will not have to suffer accusations that he only managed it with 'someone else's team'.

"I am really pleased for Brian on a personal level," beamed Elliott. "But I am also elated for the club because it is the right appointment. I can't tell you how happy I am for the whole organisation.

"Brian is ready to do the job and I know he will do everything in his power to take the club forward.

"I had to suffer the problem of people always saying it was Brian Smith's team and I hope Nobby doesn't have to endure that.

"People need to realise he has been involved in all the decision making and in developing the club in every facet of the football side of the business.

"The only difference is now that instead of being part of the decision making process he also has to put them into operation and that is an extra responsibility he is ready for.

"Brian will stick with the same basic structures but he has the ability to add his own touches and give it some freshness for next season."

Elliott says he has seen Noble develop over the past five years and has all the qualities to make a success of the role.

"Anyone who saw him play will tell you he wasn't the most talented player, but his guts and determination took him to the top," he said. "He still has those qualities but as well as that he is an extremely talented coach and when you put those two things together I don't think the club will go far wrong.

"From a purely selfish point of view, I also know that a lot of the work that I have put in is going to be preserved.

"When I heard the news on Wednesday night it was the first time I really started to look forward to the Canberra job because I knew the Bulls were in safe hands.

"I will always be a Bradford fan and I would have been absolutely devastated if I felt the club wasn't going to be able to continue to progress. I also know the players, to a man, are really pleased.

"It's my last chance now to work with him as a colleague and a friend and it's the same with the players. It gives us a real focus to what we hope to do this weekend."