Making play-offs ‘an enormous ask’ for Bradford Bulls (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Making play-offs ‘an enormous ask’ for Bradford Bulls, says Mick Potter

10:10am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall , Bradford Bulls Reporter

Mick Potter admits the Bulls face a massive challenge to reach the end-of-season play-offs but is refusing to write off their hopes of achieving a top-eight finish.

The crisis-torn club entered administration last month and are expected to be hit with a points penalty by the Rugby Football League, possibly by the end of this week.

Six points – three wins – is the standard punishment for entering administration and the Bulls currently lie in sixth spot – four points clear of ninth-placed Hull KR. That is testament to the progress that Potter has presided over at Odsal during a tumultuous campaign, which could yet culminate in them making the play-offs for the first time in four years.

Potter, who has not given up hope of being reinstated as Bulls coach as the Bradford-based ABC consortium seek to finalise a takeover of the club, accepts finishing in the top eight after a points penalty would be tough.

Potter said: “To get in the play-offs, if we do lose four or six points, is highly unlikely and would be an enormous ask.

“I’m not saying it’s beyond our players but other teams will keep winning, some will drop away and others will have a mixed bag.

“I cannot forecast what the emotions of our players are going to be like.

“They’ve been very solid through all this but that can change at the drop of a hat depending on what happens with staff and other players around them.”

The RFL have released funds to Guilfoyle to ensure players are paid July’s wages tomorrow and Potter added: “I feel for the players and you don’t want to be in this position from month to month.

“If you’re doing your job you’d like to think you would get paid.

“I don’t know how long this uncertainty can last for because it’s not a good situation for the players to be in.”

Officially, the Bulls remain without a coach following Potter’s redundancy but unofficially he will remain on hand and has told Guilfoyle he will take charge of next weekend’s game with Leeds on a voluntary basis.

Potter said: “We can’t abandon the players. The alternative is they won’t be prepped and you can’t go into a game against Leeds under-done. You have to be at your best against Leeds.

“We’re in the process of planning for that game, getting the information together that the players will need, and it will continue over the weekend.”

Potter’s wife Megan, a key figure in the ticket office, was among those made who lost their jobs last Monday.

Potter added: “My wife is very good at what she does and she was adding some value to the organisation.

“If you’re not doing that you need to move on. She was happy, I was happy, and it’s the old saying ‘happy wife, happy life.’ “She was enjoying her work at Bradford and working some damn long hours, particularly during the pledge. I never saw her!

“The other coaching staff and administration staff are all passionate about working for the Bulls.

“Perhaps some of them are looking elsewhere for opportunities, and good luck to them, because everyone needs an income.”