Bradford Bulls: No news is bad news, says Francis Cummins

8:00am Thursday 30th August 2012 in Bulls Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Francis Cummins is running out of patience Francis Cummins is running out of patience

Francis Cummins admits the proposed takeover of the Bulls cannot happen quickly enough after warning that any further delays could seriously hamper the club’s on-field progress.

The Bulls players and coaching staff were yesterday addressed by RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer and director of licensing and standards Blake Solly.

Two firm offers are on the table from Bradford businessman Omar Khan and Bradford Park Avenue, and a change of ownership appears to be looming ever closer.

But assistant boss Cummins, part of the coaching staff who have been working without pay since the club’s slide into administration, warned that all the progress made this year could be lost if the uncertainty drags on for much longer.

He said: “The update was the same update that we’ve probably had for the last month and a half.

“The RFL are doing due diligence on the bids they’ve got to see if they can back up their offers to buy the club.

The update was the same update that we’ve probably had for the last month and a half

Francis Cummins

"Hopefully within a week they might know more, but the main thing is that it’s got to happen quickly because there’s so much hard work that could go by the wayside.

“We’re losing young kids now who are desperate to sign for Bradford Bulls but we’re not able to do anything with them.

“That goes for the first-team players and even coaches.

“It’s okay talking about next year but none of us might be here next week.

“It’s not as if we can speak to the proposed new owners because that’s not over the line and I think there are still a few more twists in this story yet.”

Cummins, reflecting on the progress at Odsal this year, added: “It takes a while for anything to happen. You build and you gradually get there. There is no overnight success.

“To where we were 18 months ago to where we are now – within reach of the play-offs – is a start. But then you need to keep that going because if you lose your momentum then you lose your players. Then you have to start again and it’s another long journey.”

The Bulls will be without second-rower John Bateman against Hull FC on Saturday due to a shoulder injury he sustained at Huddersfield.

Michael Platt missed that game due to a knee injury and could miss out again, but Olivier Elima is set to return after a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder problem.

Comments(54)

Steam Pigs says...
8:46am Thu 30 Aug 12

Anyone know how long Bateman will be out for?

Franny is right, keping the kids is probably the most important aspect of this for the Bulls future whatever league we end up pying in

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Sheffieldbull says...
8:57am Thu 30 Aug 12

Shame about JB, hope we see him again this season. Glad to have Elima back and I would be happy to give Karl another run at centre. COYBs!

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murphyslaw says...
9:01am Thu 30 Aug 12

Cummins must be some kind of troll. He's saying what many of us keep saying on here. Only last week they had some of the gullible posting delightedly that all would be settled 'this week'. Wake up and smell the coffee guys and listen to those who's heads are not ruled by their hearts."No news is bad news" and the pantomime is set to continue.

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Mumby was the best says...
9:07am Thu 30 Aug 12

Why are people Gullible just because they look on the brighter side of things?
Reading the Sky page yesterday makes different reading to today's report.
I know what you are saying but I prefer to take a positive attitude, I know I may feel I`ve been kicked in the boll**** if it turns out wrong but I will cope with it.

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Prycey says...
9:10am Thu 30 Aug 12

True about holding onto the kids as they are the future whatever division we are in. We do actually have a lot of very good young lads. Some of the older ones can go for me and hopefully Potter and Cummins can start to build around the young lads with a few senior players to help.

Murpheyslaw, please give it a rest will you. Every day we have the knockers. It is bloody tiresome. Yes people do sometimes let their hearts rule their heads but do we need people pointing it out every bloody second?

No doubt someone else will accuse me now of not smelling the coffee or seeing it as it is. I see it exactly how it is but I just don't moan every minute about it.

It is only a game and not real life to us supporters.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
9:17am Thu 30 Aug 12

No news is bad news, and thats exactly what the T&A gives you day after day.

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Sheffieldbull says...
9:20am Thu 30 Aug 12

I can state as a absolute fact that the word 'gullible' does NOT appear in ANY English dictionary.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
9:29am Thu 30 Aug 12

I can state as an absolute fact that people saying they are buying the club on a T&A forum and just saying what you want to hear are just wind up merchants yet some appear to get very excited over hearing what they want to hear. I think the word gullible would be a good way to refer to those people.

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Steampig says...
9:39am Thu 30 Aug 12

i appreciate there are checks to be made etc, but we will finish up losing the bigger part of the squad if this isnt sorted soon. No body at the RFL seems to be in ant great hurry to get this sorted and the players and staff need the situation finalising so that they can plan and move on if they have to

turning to this weekend game i am anticipating a great game with a big crowd getting behind the team to spur them on in what could be the final home game at the bulls for some if this isnt resolved soon.

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Sheffieldbull says...
9:50am Thu 30 Aug 12

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:
I can state as an absolute fact that people saying they are buying the club on a T&A forum and just saying what you want to hear are just wind up merchants yet some appear to get very excited over hearing what they want to hear. I think the word gullible would be a good way to refer to those people.
Can you? Really? - and no such word sweetcheeks as 'gullible' just like your averages eh?

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BCFC LAD says...
10:12am Thu 30 Aug 12

Looks like this thread needs my input. I am glad murph has come not with that. Good on you.

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BCFC LAD says...
10:13am Thu 30 Aug 12

Looks like this thread needs my input. I am glad murph has come out with that as its all I have been saying all along. Good on you.

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Steam Pigs says...
10:17am Thu 30 Aug 12

murphyslaw wrote:
Cummins must be some kind of troll. He's saying what many of us keep saying on here. Only last week they had some of the gullible posting delightedly that all would be settled 'this week'. Wake up and smell the coffee guys and listen to those who's heads are not ruled by their hearts."No news is bad news" and the pantomime is set to continue.
where is your sons mate threatening everyone who doesn't agree with your pessimistic outlook?

Have you ever thought that the RFL told Cummins and the players not the whole truth, so tht they could stage manage the breaking of the story - plenty of mileage in that, not many RL good news stories about is there.....

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Will, Huddersfield says...
10:48am Thu 30 Aug 12

No wonder Franny Cummins is frustrated at the snail's pace 'progress' that is being taken by the RL hierarchy in coming to a firm decision or is there another agenda at work here to delay until the end of the season? Just how long does it take to do due diligence on the potential new owners? Their suitability or otherwise should be determined in hours/days rather than weeks and I challenge Blake Solly to explain why it is being drawn out in this shameful manner. Is he not aware that the good name of Rugby League is being dragged through the mud. Get it sorted! People's livelihoods are at stake.

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A N Oldman says...
11:20am Thu 30 Aug 12

BCFC LAD, once again attracting attention, to yourself. Why do you always align yourself to others. Claiming that you said this before. The posters on here are aware of the problem but prefer to look on the positive side of things. The reason you've aligned yourself to Murphys'law, is because you believe what he says is true, ie the LAW. We're you to go with tvor, the same can be said , THEE. Both the these names give the impression they are speaking the truth, therefore right. Remember RUMOUR or NOT. You did not answer my question from last night. " not long to live " was the statement, why?

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portugalbull says...
11:31am Thu 30 Aug 12

Could it be that RFL delaying so other clubs can speak to players not contracted for next season legally from 1st Sept, New owners will not have time to formulate who they want to keep and negotiate contract extensions, that way Bulls will not be able to build on this years momentum. RFL will not want club to be successful based on administration.
B Solly a waste of space, wasn,t it him that missed Management failures at time of licenses?
Time for RFL to get finger out!
COYBs

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theviking62 says...
12:10pm Thu 30 Aug 12

T n a at their best, Robbie article on bantams page. Presenting cheque for 3k to hardship fund.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
12:13pm Thu 30 Aug 12

theviking62 wrote:
T n a at their best, Robbie article on bantams page. Presenting cheque for 3k to hardship fund.
It will get more view on there tbh.

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murphyslaw says...
12:24pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Now listen up guys, I've just done some research and its a fact the reason 'trolls' come on here is because you are all so easy to wind up. I've even got Sheff doing a 'spell check' how sad is that? When will people learn to stop responding and just talk about what matters. If others have a different opinion you don't have to challenge it, just ignore, its so simple.

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Prycey says...
12:36pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Best post you have written ever. You are absolutely correct murpheyslaw.
Take his advice from now on.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
12:55pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Murphyslaw talk alot of sense. It the same few people who jump at everyone who isn't singing from the same hymn sheet that really drag this place down.

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BCFC LAD says...
12:58pm Thu 30 Aug 12

The old man has given his identity away with his persistant same questioning he did after a comment I made before. Busted !

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BCFC LAD says...
12:59pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Thee voice of reason, spot on.

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BierleyBoy says...
1:31pm Thu 30 Aug 12

The Bulls are in effect a spent force now. 17 players off contract with all free to sign elsewhere.

Brendan Guilfoyle has gone very quiet, he's not bothered how long it takes to sort anything out. His fees are £500 an hour and he earned £800k from his work at Plymouth.

The potential new owners clearly have little money to play with to build a strong side and they won't be in a position to compete in the recruitment stakes.

As a comparison, Wakefield were in and out of administration in just 2 weeks.

Shame really, but the Bulls are on course for years of struggle.

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Sheffieldbull says...
1:41pm Thu 30 Aug 12

murphyslaw wrote:
Now listen up guys, I've just done some research and its a fact the reason 'trolls' come on here is because you are all so easy to wind up. I've even got Sheff doing a 'spell check' how sad is that? When will people learn to stop responding and just talk about what matters. If others have a different opinion you don't have to challenge it, just ignore, its so simple.
I do believe that Murphs reference to 'spell check' may just have been a little nibble .- only he will know for sure just how gullible is gullible ;-)
.
COYBs -Saturday's game will be like semi-final rugby...

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Mumby was the best says...
3:08pm Thu 30 Aug 12

murphyslaw wrote:
Now listen up guys, I've just done some research and its a fact the reason 'trolls' come on here is because you are all so easy to wind up. I've even got Sheff doing a 'spell check' how sad is that? When will people learn to stop responding and just talk about what matters. If others have a different opinion you don't have to challenge it, just ignore, its so simple.
I thought the idea of the forum was discuss different points of view with genuine supporters who have the club at heart. I am led to believe you are a genuine supporter so I responded to your post. I don`t get into discussion with Trolls as they don`t support the team only want to wind people up. Please let me know if you are a Troll then I will not respond if you are.

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bantam bull says...
3:13pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Sheffieldbull wrote:
I can state as a absolute fact that the word 'gullible' does NOT appear in ANY English dictionary.
Please tell me that nobody has fallen for this one further down the thread.

I dare not look just in case!!!!!

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A N Oldman says...
3:21pm Thu 30 Aug 12

So, I take it you are all going to stop talking to the troll, bcfc lad aka slc52 aka terry's black chicken plus various other stolen names. Because his other alias is correctness. new hall nev, I believe could be shelf rhino, who on occasions talked sense. But this troll, is a genuine nine carat nutter. Ok, you seem to know me. So, who am I, nutter. Don't say the Viking, I know him but I'm not him. Think carefully before you answer.

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BCFC LAD says...
3:33pm Thu 30 Aug 12

I know you, you obviously DONT know me with that statement.

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theviking62 says...
3:36pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Wonder if any of you know Kyle Briggs has signed for featherstone, on a two year contract. I feel he was a bit lightweight for SL. Good kicking game. But did he have a fallout with management?

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theviking62 says...
3:44pm Thu 30 Aug 12

To the banner line on this article, the original saying is no news is good news. Which means any news is bad news. This headline no news is bad news, implies good news on the way. Yet reading the article, doom and gloom.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
4:02pm Thu 30 Aug 12

theviking62 wrote:
To the banner line on this article, the original saying is no news is good news. Which means any news is bad news. This headline no news is bad news, implies good news on the way. Yet reading the article, doom and gloom.
The article is obviously trolling for a response, anyone who says doom and gloom is doing that aren't they?

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BCFC LAD says...
4:06pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Viking telling the telegraph their headline wrong now. What a self righteous person he is.

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murphyslaw says...
4:07pm Thu 30 Aug 12

theviking62 wrote:
To the banner line on this article, the original saying is no news is good news. Which means any news is bad news. This headline no news is bad news, implies good news on the way. Yet reading the article, doom and gloom.
No news is good news which means any news is bad news so no news is bad news implies good news is on the way!!!!!! .....and I'm worrying about people responding to trolls!

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BCFC LAD says...
4:14pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Well said murph, his special friend will be along soon to stick up for him.

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theviking62 says...
4:18pm Thu 30 Aug 12

So all the trolls out in force. Eh, lads, tvor, Murphy and bcfc. What a set of tossers. Me, I was hoping for that response. You proved to myself and several others who we have to stop talking too. Thanks lads.

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BCFC LAD says...
4:20pm Thu 30 Aug 12

See viking with insults. Big man.

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BCFC LAD says...
4:32pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Take note everyone viking does not get his own way so throws a paddy. How childish he is for one so old.

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BCFC LAD says says...
4:55pm Thu 30 Aug 12

I`m really sorry for all the childish comments I post on here, please forgive me I am really sorry COYB

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BCFC LAD says...
5:24pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Very good but dont cry when I post under your name old man.

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Tricky Dicky says...
5:58pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Mr Cummins is merely frustrated, like many supporters, by the slow progress and lack of transparency. And not to forget, he is also working for the love of coaching and, possibly, in the hope that he will be retained, along with others, by the new owners (again, not a certain outcome). And, as he waits, along with other retrenched and out-of-contract staff, he can see the plum jobs disappearing for next season, of which many are negotiated long before September 1st. So, he, and others in a similar situation, have my sympathy but, as with most administrations, it is a long, drawn out, tortuous affair. Whatever Mr Solly and the RFL revealed yesterday did not fill Mr Cummins with unbridled optimism for his future. I think we need hope, faith and a lot of charity right now.

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BCFC LAD says says...
6:01pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Tricky Dicky wrote:
Mr Cummins is merely frustrated, like many supporters, by the slow progress and lack of transparency. And not to forget, he is also working for the love of coaching and, possibly, in the hope that he will be retained, along with others, by the new owners (again, not a certain outcome). And, as he waits, along with other retrenched and out-of-contract staff, he can see the plum jobs disappearing for next season, of which many are negotiated long before September 1st. So, he, and others in a similar situation, have my sympathy but, as with most administrations, it is a long, drawn out, tortuous affair. Whatever Mr Solly and the RFL revealed yesterday did not fill Mr Cummins with unbridled optimism for his future. I think we need hope, faith and a lot of charity right now.
I agree with every word

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BCFC LAD says says...
6:38pm Thu 30 Aug 12

oddshapedballs wrote:
Note to the d1ck you obviously have little else to do and lead a sad existance.
I am about to go to tje city thread and see if you have responded to my post but if not I am deadly serious about meeting you.and we can discuss face to face and i can then see how mighty you are as you are a.mighty jerk behind a.keyboard
I`m sorry oddshaped I`m always rubbing people up the wrong way. When I was young mummy used to say Clarence remember you are not like other boys!!

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BCFC LAD says...
7:17pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Bcfc says says is yet another viking alias.

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BCFC LAD says...
7:38pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Viking becoming paranoid methinks feck off

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BCFC LAD says...
8:01pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Come on you lot I`m all lonely sat behind my keyboard somebody have a go at me.

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BCFC LAD says...
8:24pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Yeah come on, me, sheff and mumby asking our leader viking what username to use next.

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Shelfrhino says...
8:49pm Thu 30 Aug 12

A N Oldman wrote:
So, I take it you are all going to stop talking to the troll, bcfc lad aka slc52 aka terry's black chicken plus various other stolen names. Because his other alias is correctness. new hall nev, I believe could be shelf rhino, who on occasions talked sense. But this troll, is a genuine nine carat nutter. Ok, you seem to know me. So, who am I, nutter. Don't say the Viking, I know him but I'm not him. Think carefully before you answer.
Sorry Sherlock,
That ones nothing to do with me.

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benjibullll says...
9:35pm Thu 30 Aug 12

thought this site was about rugby comments on the bulls not about bcfc tool or who ever he is

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A N Oldman says...
9:46pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Benji tools are useful BCFC LAD isn't. He's just some sad bloke that sits behind a keyboard. Knows nothing about sports of any kind. Answers everything with an insult. Claims he's the moderator, just like he claims to be various others whose names he hi jacks and being first with any news, that he plagiarises, from articles elsewhere. No, he's a 9 nine carat, numpty. Have you figured out who I am yet, BCFC LAD.

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benjibullll says...
10:47pm Thu 30 Aug 12

yes you right an oldman the man is not right upstairs he needs helpl

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benjibullll says...
10:47pm Thu 30 Aug 12

yes you right an oldman the man is not right upstairs he needs helpl

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raisemeup says...
12:12am Fri 31 Aug 12

There is a saying that sums up most of what has been put on this site today!

ie " Dont assume malice for what stupidness can explain!"

Obviously there are some exceptions.

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BCFC LAD says...
5:19am Fri 31 Aug 12

I wish I was responsible for what has been typed above as it seems to have upset a few but cant take the credit.

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