Potter in limbo over Bradford Bulls re-signing process (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Mick Potter frustrated in bid to kick off Bradford Bulls re-signing talks
8:20am Friday 18th May 2012 in Sport
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Mick Potter, his coaching staff and 17 players will all be out of contract at the end of the season
Mick Potter has admitted the pressure is mounting to find a solution to the Bulls’ financial crisis and begin re-signing players.
A whopping 17 of Bradford’s first-team squad are out of contract at the end of the season.
The list includes Danny Addy, Shaun Ainscough, Alex Ball, Kyle Briggs, Tom Burgess, Jason Crookes, James Donaldson, Olivier Elima, Bryn Hargreaves, Ben Jeffries, Phil Joseph, Manase Manuokafoa, Liam McAvoy, Karl Pryce, Jarrod Sammut, Ian Sibbit and Chev Walker.
Potter and his coaching staff are also up at the end of the year and the Bulls boss is awaiting news on the financial review being carried out by the club’s major shareholders.
The outcome of the review is expected to be known by the middle of next week and could either allow the club to push on with plans to attract investment or force them to enter administration.
Either way, it will effectively determine the future of the club and that of Potter and his players.
My main concern is to start re-signing players if they need to be re-signed. That ball needs to start rolling very soon
Mick Potter
Potter, who takes his men to Salford tonight, said: “My main concern is to start re-signing players if they need to be re-signed. That ball needs to start rolling very soon.
“It’s a process that every club goes through every year. Nothing has happened for six weeks but there’s a process that you start with your top players and your younger players and you work through that until the end of the year.
“That process probably needs to start sooner rather than later. You’re not going to re-sign 17 players next week but you need to start working your way through them.
“Possibly they won’t all be re-signed. It’s a case of players performing as best they can to give themselves the best possible chance.”
Potter has been linked with the France national post and former Bulls coach Brian Noble is understood to be prepared to assist in any review of the football department.
Noble has also been touted as Potter’s successor should the former Catalan and St Helens coach not agree to a third year at Odsal.
Potter said: “I’m the same as the players – we’ll all find out what’s happening in due time.
“The off-the-field stuff has not had much impact on the football department, where it’s business as usual. There’s nothing happening as far as any changes for us.
“I’m sure there are implications in the short term but maybe there will be things to be learned about potential changes next week or the week after. Like I say, my main concern is to start re-signing players.”
Potter’s immediate focus is on tonight’s trip to the Salford City Stadium, where the Bulls will look to avenge their 38-18 home defeat in March.
He said: “The last time we played them has been spoken about. This weekend’s game is probably not so much about getting revenge but more about performing at our best.
“I don’t think we did that last time we played them. To be fair to Salford, they came up with some fantastic pieces of play for their tries but we need to do better.
“They’re a team looking to climb the ladder and are probably a little bit better than their position suggests. They’re a quality team and guys like Luke Patten, Daniel Holdsworth and Matty Smith can turn a game.
“We know it will be tough but it’s two points that we desperately need to try and climb the ladder ourselves.
“We trained throughout last week and just had the weekend off. I’m hoping the players will be a little bit refreshed and ready to go this weekend. They’re are looking good and are in good spirits.”
Potter will again be without Adrian Purtell (hamstring), Brett Kearney (ankle) and John Bateman (suspension) but he is happy to go with the same squad which triumphed at London Broncos a fortnight ago.
He explained: “If the players do the job on the field, there’s no reason why it should change.”
Comments(26)
MeccaBingo1
says...
9:19am Fri 18 May 12
murphyslaw
says...
9:20am Fri 18 May 12
bartsbull
says...
9:34am Fri 18 May 12
Now is the time to show your colours some of these players need signing now or we will loose them
The club as put a lot of time and money into these young guys we dont want other clubs reaping the benefit .
We have a team that is building in stature and confidence and playing as a team.
This whole saga as brought the club back together lets not loose it
AdeyG'man
says...
9:41am Fri 18 May 12
Potter for the sack
says...
10:27am Fri 18 May 12
birkybull
says...
10:41am Fri 18 May 12
Mick Gledhill
says...
10:54am Fri 18 May 12
birkybull wrote:This >>>>>>>
Potter is the no1 signing we need, followed by Elima, Manukafoa, Bateman, McAvoy, Hargreeves, Burgess & Donaldson & Addy. Let the rest go.
Ralphie
says...
11:15am Fri 18 May 12
Schoey 2 wrote:I thought that Bateman got 3 games and therefore would n't be available for the Leeds game. Not worried about Crookes but I am sure that clubs are not allowed to sign or approach players until a lot later in the season.
There are certain players on that list that I wouldn't be too fussed about re-signing - yet some I would bust a gut to re-sign. Crookes I understand has already signed for Hull FC at the start of this season for 2013 anyhow. Lets hope the situation at the Bulls get sorted out as proposed over the next week or so, so that MP can get the ball rolling - that is also assuming he will be at Bulls in 2013 - my guess is that he won't and it will by Nobby - particularly if admin is avoided. From the players out of contract - they have and should look after number one - and if Bulls don't get something positive sorted out they will look seriously at moving to other clubs to safeguard their futures. Good to see we will have Bateman available for Leeds game, plus hopefully Purtell and BK to select from. Lets just try and get past Reds first however.
Blackie-Lawless
says...
11:17am Fri 18 May 12
Ralphie wrote:He did get 3 games but one of the acadamey games can count towards the ban so he will become available for the leeds game.
Schoey 2 wrote: There are certain players on that list that I wouldn't be too fussed about re-signing - yet some I would bust a gut to re-sign. Crookes I understand has already signed for Hull FC at the start of this season for 2013 anyhow. Lets hope the situation at the Bulls get sorted out as proposed over the next week or so, so that MP can get the ball rolling - that is also assuming he will be at Bulls in 2013 - my guess is that he won't and it will by Nobby - particularly if admin is avoided. From the players out of contract - they have and should look after number one - and if Bulls don't get something positive sorted out they will look seriously at moving to other clubs to safeguard their futures. Good to see we will have Bateman available for Leeds game, plus hopefully Purtell and BK to select from. Lets just try and get past Reds first however.I thought that Bateman got 3 games and therefore would n't be available for the Leeds game. Not worried about Crookes but I am sure that clubs are not allowed to sign or approach players until a lot later in the season.
Prycey
says...
11:48am Fri 18 May 12
birkybull
says...
11:53am Fri 18 May 12
Adeybull
says...
12:44pm Fri 18 May 12
barbarian mike
says...
2:27pm Fri 18 May 12
As for the game, we need to ne at our best in order to win this and start the game well as Salford will hammer us otherwise!
Don't like to be all doom and gloom, but given the last few articles that have been written, I'm preparing myself for the worst on the financial side, and am fully expecting some very bad news, administration, and the sale of our best talent. Feel sick when I think of it like that but really hope I'm very wrong!
gripper
says...
2:52pm Fri 18 May 12
theviking62
says...
5:06pm Fri 18 May 12
theviking62
says...
5:07pm Fri 18 May 12
theviking62
says...
5:10pm Fri 18 May 12
CHLOE220696
says...
6:36pm Fri 18 May 12
scandanavian's love child52
says...
8:35am Sat 19 May 12
gripper
says...
9:34am Sat 19 May 12
scandanavian's love child52
says...
9:59am Sat 19 May 12
theviking62 wrote:You appear to be a big mouth on here with your opinions Viking, Can't anyone else have an opinion ?
Funny, gripper, I have contacts at odsal, they have said nothing to me. Must be some one on the board that told you. Oh, we don't yet have a board working as a board as yet. Once again, we have an example of how rumours start. Did I say my contact was the toilet bobby. Her says your talking, *****.
theviking62
says...
10:31am Sat 19 May 12
oddshapedballs
says...
1:05pm Sat 19 May 12
gripper wrote:Yet another eeeejjot who likes to spout cr@p. Bit like Schoey and his comment on crookes. why do people keep trying the mightier than thou thing when 90% of the time they are wrong. Dont you agree Reading Bullette????
Potter is off at end of season for definite and thats from the club itself .I have contacts at the club ......
scandanavian's love child52
says...
1:19pm Sat 19 May 12
theviking62 wrote:Obsessed
Hiya, tbc, back so soon, like the new name, bak to cribbing people that are more knowledgeable about what is going on than you or friend gripper. Opinions are just that, everyone has them, not just me. Now be a good boy and bugger off.
Reading Bullette
says...
9:54am Mon 21 May 12
oddshapedballs wrote:But I wasn't wrong about Rangi Chase and John Bateman. Rangi missed three super league games and John two and an Academy game. Totally correct in this case.
gripper wrote:Yet another eeeejjot who likes to spout cr@p. Bit like Schoey and his comment on crookes. why do people keep trying the mightier than thou thing when 90% of the time they are wrong. Dont you agree Reading Bullette????
Potter is off at end of season for definite and thats from the club itself .I have contacts at the club ......
Schoey 2 says...
9:15am Fri 18 May 12
Crookes I understand has already signed for Hull FC at the start of this season for 2013 anyhow.
Lets hope the situation at the Bulls get sorted out as proposed over the next week or so, so that MP can get the ball rolling - that is also assuming he will be at Bulls in 2013 - my guess is that he won't and it will by Nobby - particularly if admin is avoided.
From the players out of contract - they have and should look after number one - and if Bulls don't get something positive sorted out they will look seriously at moving to other clubs to safeguard their futures.
Good to see we will have Bateman available for Leeds game, plus hopefully Purtell and BK to select from. Lets just try and get past Reds first however.