Mick Potter putting Bradford Bulls before himself during hour of need

8:20am Friday 13th July 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Mick Potter’s ‘selfless’ attitude has earned high praise Mick Potter’s ‘selfless’ attitude has earned high praise

Gary Tasker has paid tribute to Mick Potter following his decision to coach the Bulls on a voluntary basis again ahead of next week’s derby at Leeds.

Potter and the coaching staff made redundant by administrator Brendan Guilfoyle returned to work without pay during last weekend’s win over London Broncos.

And with no sign of a new coach being installed, Potter and his staff have offered their services once more – much to the delight of interim chief executive Tasker, who is himself working on an unpaid basis.

The ABC consortium, prospective new owners of the Bulls, are understood to be fully aware of the strength of feeling from players and fans towards reinstating Potter in his old job should a takeover be completed.

Tasker is certainly a fan of the Australian, who was in situ at Tong yesterday preparing for next Friday’s trip to Headingley.

“With Mick, you’re not only dealing with a top-quality coach but also a top-quality individual,” said Tasker.

Mick (Potter) has a deep understanding of the sport – not only how it’s being played but how it’s developing and where it’s going in the future

Gary Tasker

“He’s selfless and that’s refreshing in sport; to see someone who is willing to put the bigger picture ahead of themselves.

“That’s the sort of bloke he is and he’s not changed in all the years I’ve known him.”

Tasker was with the Bulls between 1982 and 2000 and was general manager during the club’s glory years.

He worked with Potter during the Australian’s first spell at Odsal, when he cut his teeth as an assistant to Matty Elliott between 1996 and 1999.

“I’ve had a close relationship with Mick since he arrived in Bradford in the nineties for his first spell at the club,” explained Tasker.

“It continued when I worked at the RFL and spent a lot of time on the Catalan project.

“Mick worked miracles during his time at Catalan in what was then an under-resourced and new franchise.

“He absolutely galvanised things together in the south of France and, typically of him, he found ways to get round the issues he faced.

“Staggeringly, he got Catalan to third in the competition one year and to the Challenge Cup final the following season.

“That’s testimony to how smart Mick is. In my 30 years in the game, he’s one the shrewdest people I’ve met.

“He has a deep understanding of the sport – not only how it’s being played but how it’s developing and where it’s going in the future.

“During my time at the RFL, I also had reason to deal with Mick when he was at St Helens. In both his seasons there, he got Saints to the Grand Final, so this is a guy who really knows what he’s doing.”

Tasker was Potter’s partner when they played squash together during their original spell at the Bulls.

He said: “Although I had a bit more craft and guile, Mick’s fitness and determination made sure that he won just about every game we played!”

Comments(23)

Wally Lewis says...
8:34am Fri 13 Jul 12

Im glad the new prospective owners now know the strengh of feeling towards potter. This bloke had done such a wonderful job. He will already know which players are leaving, IE Elima - Catalan, Crookes - Hull. He will already have had talks with other players about coming to the Bulls. Just remains to be seen now if they do make the offer for the club and if they keep him in the job. Lets not forget Paul Medley either. He has also done great with the kids and if it wasnt for Medders, Burgess, Obrien, Donaldson, Crookes, Olbison, Bateman, Whitehead wouldnt have made the breakthrough.

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hollymae says...
9:48am Fri 13 Jul 12

I just pray that the deal goes through, the club is saved and Potter and all the young guns are given new long term contracts. In the meantime lets give the Whino's a good spanking next week. COYB.

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bctomuk says...
10:23am Fri 13 Jul 12

Don't forget to buy your Leeds tickets directly from the Bradford Bulls ticket office.

That way Bulls get to keep 10% of the ticket value.

If you pay on the day Leeds keep all of it!

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batleybull says...
10:27am Fri 13 Jul 12

Last night I was watching sky sports news and when the highlights for each sport are put up at the bottom it states sky sources said the takeover of bradford bulls was in danger of collapse as the rfl hadnt received the guarantees they were requesting?? I can only assume this will be relating to the stadium staying as a rugby venue, I pray today that they manage to resolve any outstanding issues they may have and positive news to announce today as promised

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THEMANOFSTEEL says...
10:33am Fri 13 Jul 12

I just hope that if we are saved we can get as many people signed up to new contracts as quick as possible. Gutted to read Elima and Crookes are leaving. Cant say i would notice Crookes incredibly but Elima is a massive Unit. Good move back to Catalans for him.
I hope the owners think right we have a club lets make a success of this and bring in some good additions. We cannot go backwards if they are taken over or we will be back to square one

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Prycey says...
10:56am Fri 13 Jul 12

I think the problems that would occur with the deal are what the new owners want to do with the land. Developers and a restaurant owner are probably not in it just for the love of rugby. Let’s hope a compromise can be found where the Bulls survive and the land that currently earns very little compared to its size can be developed into a money making venture. The biggest problem will be if they have no plans to let the Bulls carry on playing there. That is what will stop the deal dead in the water as the RFL and possibly council will want rugby to carry on there. Akbar’s should be able to build a decent building where the clubhouse is but what are the plans of the developers, that could be the big sticking point here if the Bulls are not part of the future of this site. Still not a done deal for me!

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RuggerTyke says...
12:16pm Fri 13 Jul 12

RFL strangled Bulls by buying it and making them lease it.

Now Odsal can't be bought back, nor can a groundshare happen as RFL hold the cards.

Looking rather bleak, it has to be said.

Unless a new entity is allowed back in to SL, which would probably be blocked.

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Shaggy69 says...
12:26pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Can see stormy waters ahead. As much as I want to believe that the interests of the Bulls fans will be taken to heart by the consortium I really feel that the only motivation behind this bid is land !! Having a property developer involved would scare me s***less, whatever race colour or creed !!

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bartsbull says...
12:29pm Fri 13 Jul 12

The RFL own the lease they do t hold the freehold on the land that belongs to the council

They will have the last word what happens or is done to the stadium no development can be carried
out without there approval

I do hope this deal goes through it will be good for the community the RFL Bradford and the Bulls and the wider Rugby League.

But this depends on a lot of things going forward te RFL selling the lease back and the consortium going ahead with there planned take over

I do hope though none of the previous board are involved in this there need to be a clean sweep and new ideas brought in

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Bone_idle18 says...
12:35pm Fri 13 Jul 12

If they wanted to redevelop Odsal, wouldn't it be cheaper to let the Bulls go into Liquidation and then step in and buy the land without the club?

I think you can read alsorts into the situation, but I'm certain they want the club and are talking about the club, not the land!

what spare land is there at odsal? Is there room for any complimentary development, leaving the ground as it is?

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blue marlin says...
12:49pm Fri 13 Jul 12

bartsbull wrote:
The RFL own the lease they do t hold the freehold on the land that belongs to the council They will have the last word what happens or is done to the stadium no development can be carried out without there approval I do hope this deal goes through it will be good for the community the RFL Bradford and the Bulls and the wider Rugby League. But this depends on a lot of things going forward te RFL selling the lease back and the consortium going ahead with there planned take over I do hope though none of the previous board are involved in this there need to be a clean sweep and new ideas brought in
i guess that most bulls fans would agree with the last couple of lines.

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taurusthebull says...
1:05pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Just read this article on SKY sports website
http://www1.skysport
s.com/rugby-league/n
ews/12213/7892417/AB
C-plan-ground-breaki
ng-model

and I for one am for it , if the ground can be developed and improved , and in a multicultural game the Bulls come up with the next Haseem El Masri then I say go for it !

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arhmen aleg says...
1:06pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Bone_idle18 wrote:
If they wanted to redevelop Odsal, wouldn't it be cheaper to let the Bulls go into Liquidation and then step in and buy the land without the club? I think you can read alsorts into the situation, but I'm certain they want the club and are talking about the club, not the land! what spare land is there at odsal? Is there room for any complimentary development, leaving the ground as it is?
There appears to be spare land.
look what Caddick has done with Headingley through PFI scheming no doubt.

A place used only say 25 days in the year now used by Leeds Met University during the week.

With lecture theatres etc.

Bradford has missed the boat on so many opportunities these past 15 years.
bradford has had millions spent on creating a student village within the city.Sorry hundreds of millions.

much led by our intrepid council.

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Mike Strutter says...
1:10pm Fri 13 Jul 12

hollymae wrote:
I just pray that the deal goes through, the club is saved and Potter and all the young guns are given new long term contracts. In the meantime lets give the Whino's a good spanking next week. COYB.
You can live in hope !!

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RuggerTyke says...
1:12pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Mike Strutter wrote:
hollymae wrote:
I just pray that the deal goes through, the club is saved and Potter and all the young guns are given new long term contracts. In the meantime lets give the Whino's a good spanking next week. COYB.
You can live in hope !!
Wakefield, Saints and Wigan suggest it ain't impossible . .

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RuggerTyke says...
1:16pm Fri 13 Jul 12

taurusthebull wrote:
Just read this article on SKY sports website
http://www1.skysport

s.com/rugby-league/n

ews/12213/7892417/AB

C-plan-ground-breaki

ng-model

and I for one am for it , if the ground can be developed and improved , and in a multicultural game the Bulls come up with the next Haseem El Masri then I say go for it !
The Arab population are far more interested in Rugby than Asians but if it is promoted in the community then can only be an improvement.

Lidds have done to to great effect capturing the likes of JJB and BJB.

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bigo93 says...
3:28pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Asian youths are very interested in football, but how many professional asian footballers do you see in all the leagues combined?

Not many, this deal may help get potentially good asian players into the view of other teams as well.

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raisemeup says...
4:24pm Fri 13 Jul 12

forgive me but we are commenting on the situation with Mick Potter et al.

It looks like we've forgotten the human tragedy of all these good people being put out of work.

the tragedy is that if Mick isn't given his job back, he will have to leave the country.
We will have lost a good friend and a super coach.

I for one feel numb that my friends have suffered this fate.

The suits will talk endlessly about where things can be tweaked to negotiate a deal, but it doesn't alter the fact that many decent people are in that strange limbo land that is redundancy.

Whilst we discuss "what if's" they face the harsh reality of the truth of the matter.

Good Luck my friends, I hope you find employment that brings the smiles back on your faces.

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oddshapedballs says...
8:24pm Fri 13 Jul 12

bigo93 wrote:
Asian youths are very interested in football, but how many professional asian footballers do you see in all the leagues combined?

Not many, this deal may help get potentially good asian players into the view of other teams as well.
Why should we be trying to drag them onto the field. We have plenty of english youths that are good enough.

The next thing will be spot betting will be introduced with players taking drop goals when 32-6 down! No to Bradford Bhunas

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oddshapedballs says...
9:15pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Medders is back withe the accademy for a couple of weeks. Good on yer medders

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Shelfrhino says...
11:40pm Fri 13 Jul 12

arhmen aleg wrote:
Bone_idle18 wrote: If they wanted to redevelop Odsal, wouldn't it be cheaper to let the Bulls go into Liquidation and then step in and buy the land without the club? I think you can read alsorts into the situation, but I'm certain they want the club and are talking about the club, not the land! what spare land is there at odsal? Is there room for any complimentary development, leaving the ground as it is?
There appears to be spare land. look what Caddick has done with Headingley through PFI scheming no doubt. A place used only say 25 days in the year now used by Leeds Met University during the week. With lecture theatres etc. Bradford has missed the boat on so many opportunities these past 15 years. bradford has had millions spent on creating a student village within the city.Sorry hundreds of millions. much led by our intrepid council.
Don't let the flatcappers on here hear you praising the Rhino's, they don't like, what with their inwards looking small town, small club attitude.
You would be much better talking about how good it is to have a knackered out cinema and a few holes in the ground.

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raisemeup says...
12:04am Sat 14 Jul 12

Oh for a sensible comment from either OSB or the veritable SR.

Disgusting comment OSB, you should be ashamed of yourself for stooping so low.

As for SR who believes the drivel he spouts?

You would make true Rhino's fans cringe in embarassment, at your stupid childlike ramblings.

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
5:55am Sat 14 Jul 12

So the coach works for free but the high earning players dont take a pay cut ? Tell them to feck off MP , I know a few little fellas who throw their teddy out the pram if they dont get their pay rise on time.

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