Cummins: Hard work at Bradford Bulls starts today (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
Francis Cummins steps up to take over as Bradford Bulls coach
8:20am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Sport
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Francis Cummins will be the youngest Super League coach after taking over at the Bulls helm
Francis Cummins yesterday hit the ground running as he began trying to assemble a squad following his appointment as Bulls coach on a three-year deal.
The 35-year-old, set to be the youngest coach in Super League next season, currently has only 16 senior players contracted to the club for 2013.
Manase Manuokafoa and Chev Walker are set for new deals and the likes of Danny Addy , Shaun Ainscough , Jarrod Sammut and Karl Pryce are also under consideration.
It is understood that the Bulls are scouring the loan market and could sign some of the best young players from leading clubs such as Wigan and Warrington keen to gain regular Super League experience.
Paul Sykes , meanwhile, is believed to have been offered a two-year deal to join Wakefield permanently and John Bateman ’s rise to prominence is set to be rewarded with a new, improved contract offer.
Former Leeds assistant coach Cummins, recommended to new owners Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe by predecessor Mick Potter, has an impressive contacts book which is set to come into play in the coming weeks.
The new Bradford coach admitted that Craig Kopczak is likely to have played his last game for the club after terminating his contract at Odsal , sparking a legal battle and an RFL investigation.
Yet Cummins, resplendent in a smart grey suit, spoke impressively as he took centre stage at a press conference in the Coral Stand, flanked by Khan and Sutcliffe.
“The hard work starts today and we’ll be looking to sign players up straight away,” declared Cummins.
“There are people out there getting itchy feet at other places but they’ve got to be the right people. They’ve got to buy into this environment and I’ll be speaking to agents in the new few days.
“Yes, we’ve currently got 16 players who are contracted to the club but Gerry, Omar and I have talked about the budget and we’ll hopefully be sitting down with the players in the next few days or weeks to secure a playing staff.
“That will be the current crop of players who are currently playing for us, and hopefully there will be a few of the younger players moving up as well.”
Cummins and Potter returned to Odsal to work without pay since being made redundant by administrator Brendan Guilfoyle on July 2.
It proved a testing time for the former Leeds winger, who was forced to retire early due to injury aged 29 before embarking on a career in coaching at Headingley, first under Tony Smith and latterly Brian McClennan.
Cummins explained: “I wasn’t getting paid but I’ve got three kids and a wife. When you’re thinking about trying to earn some money, it’s a real test of everything.
“I’ve got to publicly thank my wife Katy for that. It wasn’t easy but she didn’t make it any harder.”
Cummins insisted he was ready for the added responsibility of taking the club forward, despite the financial constraints in place at Odsal.
“I’ve been coaching since I was 16, so that’s 20 years,” said Cummins, who said no decision had yet been made on his backroom staff.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I was ready. To be honest, I’ve been ready for a couple of years.”
The administrative structure of the club is set to be decided by the end of this week and Cummins added: “The job has started already.
“My phone isn’t the best – I think it’s on its way out and dieing with the amount of good luck messages and people asking for jobs!
“But it’s all good and I think you have to live this job so much.
“You have your family time but I realise what I’m going to do, although there will come a point in a couple of months where I think ‘this is how it’s going to be’.
“That’s what the head coaches say to me but I’m looking forward to it.”
Comments(46)
Mumby was the best
says...
8:53am Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best
says...
9:03am Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best
says...
9:03am Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best
says...
9:12am Tue 18 Sep 12
Shipley Paul
says...
9:21am Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best
says...
9:40am Tue 18 Sep 12
Hudzilla
says...
9:45am Tue 18 Sep 12
Kop-who???
Excellent forst day in charge I think.
bullybullman
says...
10:12am Tue 18 Sep 12
Will, Huddersfield
says...
11:04am Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best
says...
11:13am Tue 18 Sep 12
Adeybull
says...
11:37am Tue 18 Sep 12
FC coming across strongly and well, hitting the ground running. I have a sneaky feeling he is going to surprise a lot of people. I have every confidence.
LoyalBull
says...
11:37am Tue 18 Sep 12
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
Mumby was the best
says...
11:54am Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull wrote:what a load of crock - how does anyone know wht Scruton is on, same for Kopout and Burgess.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
If you believed all the wage rumours -
Platt is a multi milionaire
Sykes was on more than the Prime Minister
Awful has more cash than Bill Gates does thanks to his Buills contract
But lets not forget that both Kopout and Burgess were VERY poor before last season (2012)
raisemeup
says...
12:06pm Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull wrote:Where do you get these supposed figures from?
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
Craig Kop-out lost his sense and his nerve that's all. There is no other explanation for his ridiculous move to a side that will fare no better than us next year.
It's a great shame that he brought his mates and the club into this legal wrangle on the advice of Martin Shuttleworth, his agent>
Rest assured he may not get his registeration with the RFL with the way it was done.He's already forfeited it with Bradford, so at the moment , I imagine he isn't registered to play for any Super League club?
"You stupid Boy" comes to mind.
raisemeup
says...
12:09pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Craig Kop-out lost his sense and his nerve that's all. There is no other explanation for his ridiculous move to a side that will fare no better than us next year.
It's a great shame that he brought his mates and the club into this legal wrangle on the advice of Martin Shuttleworth, his agent>
Rest assured he may not get his registeration with the RFL with the way it was done.He's already forfeited it with Bradford, so at the moment , I imagine he isn't registered to play for any Super League club?
"You stupid Boy" comes to mind.
bullybullman
says...
12:28pm Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull wrote:Loyalbull - Sorry mate but you dont have a clue in my opinion, Koppy is a Bradford lad under a Bradford contract & has jumped ship he should not be vindicated in anyway. The contract he signed was under his own agreement for the Bradford Bulls we are still the Bulls & all this about not signing for OK Bulls is just a Kop out ! I hope his agent Giants & himself are fined heavley.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
Bullbreath
says...
1:59pm Tue 18 Sep 12
bullybullman wrote:Absolutely no chance of glory at the bulls other than getting the wooden spoon haaaaaaaa
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
Bullbreath
says...
2:02pm Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull wrote:Well said
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
All 3 burgess's did the dirty on bulls chasing the dollar in Oz FACT
Let Scruton do the graft now and earn his crust, after all he is on close to 100k how ludicruous is that! No wonder all the props bar manakafuck jumped ship!
Hudzilla
says...
2:05pm Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull
says...
2:17pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best wrote:because I know everything and I have the previous accounts with all the wage's. go to companies house.
LoyalBull wrote:what a load of crock - how does anyone know wht Scruton is on, same for Kopout and Burgess.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
If you believed all the wage rumours -
Platt is a multi milionaire
Sykes was on more than the Prime Minister
Awful has more cash than Bill Gates does thanks to his Buills contract
But lets not forget that both Kopout and Burgess were VERY poor before last season (2012)
LoyalBull
says...
2:22pm Tue 18 Sep 12
bullybullman wrote:but surely the club is bigger than one player or any other player for that matter. I find the whole subject very boring to be quite frank and I would rather wait and see the outcome as to who is right or wrong. I want to hear what players we will now be signing with less money as players come and go all the time.
LoyalBull wrote:Loyalbull - Sorry mate but you dont have a clue in my opinion, Koppy is a Bradford lad under a Bradford contract & has jumped ship he should not be vindicated in anyway. The contract he signed was under his own agreement for the Bradford Bulls we are still the Bulls & all this about not signing for OK Bulls is just a Kop out ! I hope his agent Giants & himself are fined heavley.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
portugalbull
says...
2:40pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Agree with free entry for under 12's.
Young are future for the club!
Good luck to Fanny, hope he can achieve a good enough squad for next year.
If short for props might be able to get Feilden from Wigan on the cheap? After nearly 2years out will want to prove himself again.
portugalbull
says...
2:40pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Agree with free entry for under 12's.
Young are future for the club!
Good luck to Fanny, hope he can achieve a good enough squad for next year.
If short for props might be able to get Feilden from Wigan on the cheap? After nearly 2years out will want to prove himself again.
Mumby was the best
says...
2:45pm Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull wrote:BULL shiner sunshine
Mumby was the best wrote:because I know everything and I have the previous accounts with all the wage's. go to companies house.
LoyalBull wrote:what a load of crock - how does anyone know wht Scruton is on, same for Kopout and Burgess.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
If you believed all the wage rumours -
Platt is a multi milionaire
Sykes was on more than the Prime Minister
Awful has more cash than Bill Gates does thanks to his Buills contract
But lets not forget that both Kopout and Burgess were VERY poor before last season (2012)
Co House does not pint individuals wages only the total unless Scrutes is a Director....
Jog on
Mumby was the best
says...
2:47pm Tue 18 Sep 12
portugalbull wrote:best post of the day by far
Hope Paul Medley is first appointment to give continuity to our successful youngsters.
Agree with free entry for under 12's.
Young are future for the club!
Good luck to Fanny, hope he can achieve a good enough squad for next year.
If short for props might be able to get Feilden from Wigan on the cheap? After nearly 2years out will want to prove himself again.
Sheffieldbull
says...
2:54pm Tue 18 Sep 12
LoyalBull wrote:If anyone thought you were an idiot before this post, you've just removed any doubt!
Mumby was the best wrote:because I know everything and I have the previous accounts with all the wage's. go to companies house.
LoyalBull wrote:what a load of crock - how does anyone know wht Scruton is on, same for Kopout and Burgess.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
If you believed all the wage rumours -
Platt is a multi milionaire
Sykes was on more than the Prime Minister
Awful has more cash than Bill Gates does thanks to his Buills contract
But lets not forget that both Kopout and Burgess were VERY poor before last season (2012)
.
Please don't think others are as stupid as you - you are way ahead!
Mumby was the best
says...
3:10pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Sheffieldbull wrote:No Sheff - let him share his EVIDENCE of Scrutons wage
LoyalBull wrote:If anyone thought you were an idiot before this post, you've just removed any doubt!
Mumby was the best wrote:because I know everything and I have the previous accounts with all the wage's. go to companies house.
LoyalBull wrote:what a load of crock - how does anyone know wht Scruton is on, same for Kopout and Burgess.
bullybullman wrote:getting boring this subject but from the sound of things Franny has accepted that he will no longer pull the shirt on. This tells me the club has boobed once again with poor contracts. I would not hold it against any player to try and earn more money elsewhere which really Burgess has done as well. But to hear that Scruton was on double the pay of both Koppy and Burgess is **** poor management from the old regime.
Can not believe Koppy has done the dirty ! Bradford lad chasing the dollar at Huddersfield no real chance of any glory there ! Good luck Franny you have the fans behind you all the best in your new role.
If you believed all the wage rumours -
Platt is a multi milionaire
Sykes was on more than the Prime Minister
Awful has more cash than Bill Gates does thanks to his Buills contract
But lets not forget that both Kopout and Burgess were VERY poor before last season (2012)
.
Please don't think others are as stupid as you - you are way ahead!
please let him......
monkey belly
says...
3:48pm Tue 18 Sep 12
He played at the weekend and in my opinion had a very good game, i would welcome him back.
Mumby was the best
says...
4:33pm Tue 18 Sep 12
bullyboydonegud!
says...
4:46pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Capabull
says...
4:48pm Tue 18 Sep 12
If Wigan and Warrington are prepared to loan young players then that is a ringing endorsement of Franny Cummins.
Would like to think we are trying to keep young Donaldson, but no mention of him.
bullybullman
says...
5:54pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Hudzilla wrote:They dont !
I didnt know so many people were privvy to the Playing staffs wage slips...
theviking62
says...
6:34pm Tue 18 Sep 12
bullyboydonegud!
says...
6:39pm Tue 18 Sep 12
bullybullman wrote:Agents talk, also a few ex bulls employee's who were made redundant have lose lips and an axe to grind and so have nothing to lose by revealing inside info re Bradford bulls
Hudzilla wrote:They dont !
I didnt know so many people were privvy to the Playing staffs wage slips...
Capabull
says...
7:08pm Tue 18 Sep 12
theviking62 wrote:Viking I only repeated what was in the above article because I felt it reflected well on Franny.
Cappabull, you should read other media sites, not just t n a. We are keeping our young'uns. As to " scouring the loan market " what was probably said was " might have to " . Anyway we have our own young'uns who need firt team experience, so why would we want Wire or Wigan ones.
I agree with you we have our own young`uns and hopefully if they are ready we should promote them rather than lose them to a club nearby who seems to like to raid our academy rather than nurture their own.
Californiabull
says...
7:41pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Mumby was the best
says...
7:51pm Tue 18 Sep 12
New Hall Nev
says...
9:17pm Tue 18 Sep 12
theviking62
says...
9:32pm Tue 18 Sep 12
GIGO detector
says...
6:23am Wed 19 Sep 12
New Hall Nev wrote:Didn't know West Indies had a RL team
you and windes and cas bottom nextyear lol
Mumby was the best
says...
8:01am Wed 19 Sep 12
bullyboydonegud!
says...
10:16am Wed 19 Sep 12
Steam Pigs
says...
10:23am Wed 19 Sep 12
bullyboydonegud! wrote:thought people should check companies house????
bullybullman wrote:Agents talk, also a few ex bulls employee's who were made redundant have lose lips and an axe to grind and so have nothing to lose by revealing inside info re Bradford bulls
Hudzilla wrote:They dont !
I didnt know so many people were privvy to the Playing staffs wage slips...
u iz ful ov sh it (wrote in a language you may understand!)
Capabull
says...
12:10pm Wed 19 Sep 12
theviking62 wrote:Unless you went to school in Bradford in 60`s I don`t think so.
Capabull, have we met before. You seem somewhat familiar. You take sense unlike some I could mention. I wouldn't mind a certain Giant in a swap for The Kopout Kid. Or a large squawking bird from down the road. Even if we only get a couple of years out of 'em. Will bring the kids on no end.
Mumby was the best
says...
10:11pm Thu 20 Sep 12

monkey belly says...
8:36am Tue 18 Sep 12
lets hope Nas accepts the offer as he is a key signing. All the fans ask is that the team play with the heart and commitment that was shown this year, the results will take care of themselves. We showed this year we are a competetive team, which has not been the case for a number of years.