Bradford Bulls: Mick Potter on lookout for jobs back home

6:10am Saturday 7th July 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Mick Potter would still love to be given the chance to complete the job he started at Odsal Mick Potter would still love to be given the chance to complete the job he started at Odsal

Mick Potter has not completely given up hope of overseeing the Bulls for the rest of the season but admits he is now looking for jobs in his native Australia.

Potter and his coaching staff, who were all out of contract at the end of the year, were made redundant by administrator Brendan Guilfoyle on Monday.

They have agreed to take charge of tomorrow’s game with London Broncos on a voluntary basis but Potter insists the arrangement is a short-term one.

Should a buyer for the club be found, however, Potter would like to keep his job until the end of the season at least.

“Depending on who the investor was and what the feel was, then sure, I want to complete the job I came to do,” he said.

“Whether that’s to work to the end of the season or beyond, that would be negotiable. Certainly I want to complete my contract.

I had some talks (with the French Federation) but there was never really an offer

Mick Potter

“At this moment in time it’s not an option. I’m just focusing on really trying to make contact with people back in Australia to try and secure employment in the near future.

“I don’t know where they’re at with potential investors here but I’d love for an investor to come in and make everything right for the fans and so the Bradford club can move forward and start to build again.”

Potter admitted he had spoken to the French Federation about succeeding Bobbie Goulding as coach of the France national side.

He enjoyed great success at Catalan Dragons and said: “I had some talks but there was never really an offer.

“I’ve got a passion for the French game and would love to see French rugby league develop.

“But I won’t be waiting around. I need to seek employment as soon as I can get it.”

Comments(15)

Bradford Builder says...
6:17am Sat 7 Jul 12

Get yourself off while you can. This so called City is finished, and was along time ago, the majority of personnel running the council have no interest in anything but themselves, and are totally useless, they have no interest. It's sad but true. Good luck

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nosher says...
9:09am Sat 7 Jul 12

I agree. Bradford city centre is a perfect example of the lack of interest, investment and pride. Most Bradfordians that I speak to, want to move away from this area, as I do. The dust bowl that is the city centre will never recover IMO. Most people have transport and they are happy to travel down the M62 to shopping centres. The 24 million invested in the puddle by the town hall is a waste of our money. I was in town several months ago, and it was being used to water horses, wash feet and morons riding bikes through it !!!!!!!!

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nosher says...
9:09am Sat 7 Jul 12

I agree. Bradford city centre is a perfect example of the lack of interest, investment and pride. Most Bradfordians that I speak to, want to move away from this area, as I do. The dust bowl that is the city centre will never recover IMO. Most people have transport and they are happy to travel down the M62 to shopping centres. The 24 million invested in the puddle by the town hall is a waste of our money. I was in town several months ago, and it was being used to water horses, wash feet and morons riding bikes through it !!!!!!!!

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nosher says...
9:13am Sat 7 Jul 12

dont know what happened there, The situation is annoying, but did not mean to send it 3 times lol. A fraction of the puddle money, could have gone into both professional sports clubs.

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raisemeup says...
9:25am Sat 7 Jul 12

Whatever happens, we the fans wish to thank you and your family and know you have to look after your family as your first priority. We wish you every success in finding new employment, if this dibacle cannot be sorted out. We are all deeply saddened with all thats happened.

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Bullinexile says...
10:08am Sat 7 Jul 12

I doubt anyone would disagree with anyone (especially where it was both wife and husband) that has been made redundant playing a safety game and looking for and considering options.

I doubt the Potters are millionaires and everyone needs an income.

I think the anger that everyone feels is still there but it should saved for the full post mortem after the seasons end and never should any of it be directed at any existing staff or those volunteering to help (even if they do have hidden agendas...there is no one else!)

Hopefully a resolution will be found where Mick, his wife and the rest of those who were made redundant be allowed (and paid at least enough) to stay through the season and into the play-offs.

I think looking at the full fixtures list (all teams) suggests we have more that enough talent to get us not only into the playoffs but higher than where we are now.

Everythings crossed, lottery tickets in and i will make the 200 mile plus journey to show my support tomorrow just hope that there is enough of a crowd to demonstrate the level of support I know is out there.

One final comment, i havent seen one comment regarding a supporters buy out, like that happened in several football clubs? By my reckoning 2000 - 3000 people putting in £500 - £750 each could buy/payoff everything and still have sufficeint to function as the bulls. Or as Brendan Guilfoyles quotes incorrect (i.e. 100's of thousands not millions?) I for one would sign up for that, new management no ties to the old ones what so ever?

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mines a pint says...
11:14am Sat 7 Jul 12

Bullinexile wrote:
I doubt anyone would disagree with anyone (especially where it was both wife and husband) that has been made redundant playing a safety game and looking for and considering options.

I doubt the Potters are millionaires and everyone needs an income.

I think the anger that everyone feels is still there but it should saved for the full post mortem after the seasons end and never should any of it be directed at any existing staff or those volunteering to help (even if they do have hidden agendas...there is no one else!)

Hopefully a resolution will be found where Mick, his wife and the rest of those who were made redundant be allowed (and paid at least enough) to stay through the season and into the play-offs.

I think looking at the full fixtures list (all teams) suggests we have more that enough talent to get us not only into the playoffs but higher than where we are now.

Everythings crossed, lottery tickets in and i will make the 200 mile plus journey to show my support tomorrow just hope that there is enough of a crowd to demonstrate the level of support I know is out there.

One final comment, i havent seen one comment regarding a supporters buy out, like that happened in several football clubs? By my reckoning 2000 - 3000 people putting in £500 - £750 each could buy/payoff everything and still have sufficeint to function as the bulls. Or as Brendan Guilfoyles quotes incorrect (i.e. 100's of thousands not millions?) I for one would sign up for that, new management no ties to the old ones what so ever?
"2000 - 3000 people putting in £500 - £750 each could buy/payoff everything"

That may be the case but as the club does not make a profit would they be prepared to keep putting money in year after year I think not

Sure It would be possible to turn the clubs financial performance around but it would not be done over night & such a fans buy would unlikely have sufficient surplus capital to prop up the club until such a time that it could be truly debt free & eventually making a profit

The reality is that there are probably more sporting cubs making a loss than breaking even/making a profit The difference is they have rich benafactors willing to dip in to their personal wealth year after year to keep the club going

Look at St Hellens who have just announced that last season playing at Widness resulted in a £2 million loss for the club

Interesting to learn that "they were not concerned as they had budgeted for such a loss"

Good old Eamon is willing to bail them out

Truth is untill something is done to ensure that the financial performance of a club is based purely on the difference between the revenue earned less the expenditures made we will always have clubs at risk of administration and that goes for football as well as RL

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nosher says...
11:58am Sat 7 Jul 12

I for one, would be interested in supporters buy out. Who would organise such a thing ? I would be happy to shell out the amount you quoted, but would it be like throwing money away, which is what happened earlier this year.

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olicanabull says...
4:44pm Sat 7 Jul 12

Interesting idea from bullinexile. 3000 supporters putting in on average £750 each would raise around £2,250,000. With gate money, TV money and possible sale of some players the club could continue, at least for this season. The question then becomes, would supporters be prepared to put this kind of money in each year. There has to be a question mark against that. A supporters' club committee would have to start looking at economies and the obvious place to start, taking into account the next franchise bid in two years time, would be the stadium. Odsal absorbs money like a sponge absorbs water, so supporters would need to look seriously at VP. Overheads would be halved, a modern stadium would help the franchise application, the training facilities at Tong might be shared. Some spectators unfortunately would be lost and it would be a great pity to leave Odsal. But sometimes we have to face the harsh reality. If investors come in none of this might be necessary, but if not?...

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nosher says...
5:03pm Sat 7 Jul 12

The supporters committee sounds a good idea. It would take a lot of organising, from previous events, there is a lot of mistrust among the fans. It would need organisisng pretty quickly

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
7:44pm Sat 7 Jul 12

nosher wrote:
dont know what happened there, The situation is annoying, but did not mean to send it 3 times lol. A fraction of the puddle money, could have gone into both professional sports clubs.
Why should be used on the sports clubs Nosher when only a fraction of the city folk attend either venue and some of them only due to freebys and cheap season tickets ?
A supporters committee ? Some on here could not stand the heat of a Pennine League committee :-)

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nosher says...
8:26pm Sat 7 Jul 12

Ha ha. At least some try to make a difference. Try stepping out of the shadows some time. I am willing to put my money where my mouth is. III

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
10:39pm Sat 7 Jul 12

Let the good boys and girls on here know how much you pledged Ha Ha.
You really made a difference there :-)

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oddshapedballs says...
9:41am Sun 8 Jul 12

scandanavian's love child52 wrote:
Let the good boys and girls on here know how much you pledged Ha Ha.
You really made a difference there :-)
Such a big man behind your keyboard. come along to london today and we can speak face to face dhead

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nosher says...
10:15am Sun 8 Jul 12

I pledged absolutely nothing. If I had pledged £10,000, it would not have made any difference. Unfortunately, IMO the pledge offered no guarantees of improvement. That does not mean I would not help an organised, reliable and trustworthy group of people.

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