Bradford Bulls: Cummins is head coach material, says Potter (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls: Francis Cummins is head coach material, says Mick Potter

10:20pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Mick Potter believes the club should promote from within

Francis Cummins would be the ideal candidate to succeed Mick Potter if the Bulls coach’s reign does not continue beyond this season.

That is the view of Potter himself, whose future remains undecided as the club wait to hear if they will survive in Super League.

Potter and his coaching staff have been working on a voluntary basis since being made redundant by administrator Brendan Guilfoyle on July 2.

Potter has consistently stated that he would be open-minded about the prospect of returning to his job on a paid basis.

He has spoken to new owners Gerry Sutcliffe and Omar Khan since the pair came into situ earlier this month but it remains to be seen whether a deal to bring him back can be struck.

Should the Australian sever his ties with the Bulls, then he feels the men who have supported him during his two-year tenure should be handed the reins.

He reckons the highly-rated Cummins would be an ideal candidate for the top job, with fellow assistant coach Lee St Hilaire as his right-hand man.

“If I’m not here then Franny would be a good option as head coach, with Lee playing a supporting role,” said the 48-year-old.

“Franny is a smart, intelligent guy in his own right.

“He made a trip to Australia to visit a number of NRL clubs last year and came back with a wealth of knowledge.

“Not only that, he’s got a lot of other experience from his time at Leeds.

“You could do a lot worse than have Francis Cummins coaching Bradford Bulls.”