FRANCIS Cummins is expected to complete a cross-code switch to Yorkshire Carnegie following his successful legal battle against the Bulls.

The former Bradford head coach won his case for wrongful dismissal in Leeds County Court on Friday and now looks certain to embark on the next chapter of his career back at Headingley.

The 38-year-old spent three months working for Carnegie on a consultancy basis earlier this year and impressed recently-appointed head coach Bryan Redpath during their short stint together.

It was revealed in court on Friday that a one-year deal with an annual salary of £34,000, and beginning on June 1, had been agreed “in principle” with Cummins’ agent David Howes.

Cummins worked as a backs coach at Carnegie, focusing primarily on skills but also defensive duties, and the 12-month contract would see him become a permanent member of Redpath’s team.

It would also reunite him with former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Kevin Sinfield, who will join the rugby union outfit as a player at the end of the current Super League season.

Cummins’ lawyer Richard Cramer, of Leeds-based Front Row Legal, said: “Franny now has a decision to make whether he accepts the offer and it’s a big move.

“It’s down to Franny now whether he wants to switch codes on a permanent basis but he’s got a chance to do that.”

Cummins was left delighted with the outcome of the two-day hearing, having worked for the Bulls on a voluntary basis for three months after being made redundant in June 2014.

When giving evidence in court on Thursday, he told how the stress of working in such extreme circumstances had impacted on his family.

Cramer added: “It’s been a difficult time in dealing with the whole trauma of the periods in administration at Bradford but Franny has got a fair result.

“It was a very fair hearing and the judge listened very carefully to all the evidence.

“The evidence was overwhelming – it was always intended to be a three-year deal – and the judge recognised that Franny had been an unbelievable servant to Bradford, especially when he was made redundant and worked there on a voluntary basis for three months.”

Having lost the case, it remains to be seen whether Bulls chairman Marc Green will launch an appeal against the ruling.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are to admit women free of charge to the home game with Championship rivals Doncaster on Sunday, June 7 to raise awareness of Women’s Aid.

The charity’s ‘Real Man’ campaign calls for both men and women to help send out the message that real men do not abuse and control women – physically, emotionally, sexually or financially.

Kate Hardcastle, an ambassador for the Bulls and Women’s Aid supporter, said: “Women’s Aid is an incredibly important organisation and I am proud to support the work that they do.

“The safety and empowerment of women is a matter extremely close to my heart and I will do all I can to help Women’s Aid keep women and children safe from domestic violence.

“Sending out the message that a ‘Real Man’ would never abuse a woman is so important, and it is great to be able to work with the Bradford Bulls as role models in their community and wider afield.”

Tickets will be available from 9am tomorrow morning and the deadline to secure them is the Friday before the game.