Cummins unveiled as Bradford Bulls coach

11:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in Bulls By Sports Desk

Francis Cummins at Odsal today after being announced as the new Bulls boss Francis Cummins at Odsal today after being announced as the new Bulls boss

Bradford have appointed former Leeds winger Francis Cummins as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

Cummins, who was recommended for the job by his predecessor Mick Potter after he opted to return to Australia, was unveiled this morning at a press conference at Odsal hosted by new owner Omar Khan and honorary chairman Gerry Sutcliffe.

Sutcliffe said: "We had no hesitation in taking Mick's recommendation to offer the job to Francis and we are delighted he has accepted our offer."

It will be Cummins' first role as a head coach and, at 35, he will be the youngest in Super League when he takes charge of his first match in February.

Catalan Dragons' Australian boss Trent Robinson is nine months younger but he is leaving at the end of the season to take charge of Sydney Roosters.

Cummins enjoyed a one-club career with Leeds, for whom he made 356 appearances from 1993 to 2005, and also won three caps for Great Britain.

The former Ireland international cut his coaching teeth as an assistant at Leeds before being appointed as Potter's number two at the start of the 2010 season.

Along with Potter, Cummins worked without pay for the last three months of the season after being made redundant by the administrator amid the club`s financial problems in early July.

Comments(35)

MeccaBingo1 says...
11:40am Mon 17 Sep 12

And his No.2 is?

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Schoey 2 says...
11:45am Mon 17 Sep 12

I understand that Franny was always penciled in for the job as MP was never looking to stay beyond his 2 yrs - this is irrespective of what happened re admin etc this summer.

Will be interesting to see who he brings in as his assistant - Matt Diskin maybe?? - and of the 12 or so players left out of contract, on who he retains and what recruitment they look for.

We need at least 3 front rowers to start with!!!

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Ballboy2012 says...
11:48am Mon 17 Sep 12

Very disappointing.

A great coach can do a lot with a handful of average players, but the youngest coach with no coaching experience. Did we not learn from McNamara ?

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pjbull says...
11:54am Mon 17 Sep 12

MeccaBingo1 wrote:
And his No.2 is?
Personally, I'd go for Wayne Bennett

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Sheffieldbull says...
11:59am Mon 17 Sep 12

Ballboy2012 wrote:
Very disappointing.

A great coach can do a lot with a handful of average players, but the youngest coach with no coaching experience. Did we not learn from McNamara ?
If your disappointed with this now, I fear you'll have plenty to be disappointed with in the next couple of years. The time now is to stabilise, reform and build. Please try to manage your inevitable disappointments in a positive as way as possible and enjoy the ride. This is what the future looks like - far better than no future at all isn't it?

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Californiabull says...
12:17pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Whatever your personal doubts and thoughts about the appointment of Francis Cummings ...let's get behind this young coach and give the guy a chance ...stop been so negative ...Francis congratulations and good luck ....coyb

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bartsbull says...
12:25pm Mon 17 Sep 12

let us all look at the positives the club is now looking more stable

We have a new owner who wants to see the club progress a young coach who the RFL sent to OZ
to learn there structures

We have players who want to play for the club the new board have priced the season tickets to where they should have been two years ago

Franny knows which layers to offer new contracts to and who to let go he will also have had his eye on player who he would like so give the man a chance

Look forward to a good off season and a great new one which we did not have two months plus ago

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JoJoCarr says...
12:30pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Please can someone tell me what the new season ticket prices are?

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otleybull says...
12:32pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Terracing £180, kids under 12 get in for free. Seating will probably be from £200-£250 depending on where you want to sit

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Sheffieldbull says...
12:35pm Mon 17 Sep 12

otleybull wrote:
Terracing £180, kids under 12 get in for free. Seating will probably be from £200-£250 depending on where you want to sit
Stand prices £225 /£180 concession...

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Mumby was the best says...
12:42pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Sold 3 this morning well done.

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els1959 says...
12:55pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Good luck to Franny and it looks like he will need it if reports in League Express today are correct. It says Bulls will get no more money this year from RFL central handout of Sky money. Also for next 2 years they will only receive half of the Sky monies that they are due. So we wil be getting £625,000 next season and £650,000 in 2014, all other clubs getting at least double those sums for next 2 years. This is our punishment for being able to continue in SL. It is also to try and discourage any other clubs seeking to enter administration. It looks like we are in for a couple of long hard years. But at least we still have a club and it appears Franny will need a lot of support and patience from the fans over the next couple of years

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murphyslaw says...
1:25pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Disappointed???? Don't you guys understand? we are in a probationary period and you want to start already paying mega bucks for a top coach. Dream on! this club is on rebuild, NO top coaches NO big named prima donnas just steady progress with top blokes like Cummins helping the Bulls on the long journey back. If we give them the support they need and deserve there are interesting times ahead. Its great we have at last shaken off all the rubbish we have been carrying with the previous regime, We don't need to carry on knocking, they're GONE!! now get out and buy that season ticket.

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bradfordbronco says...
1:31pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Surprised he got a three year contract. I remember also being surprised when London gave Rob Powell (Also the youngest & an untried caoch) a two year deal. Hope cummins does better than Rob did!

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Mumby was the best says...
1:39pm Mon 17 Sep 12

He better start looking round the local amateur clubs to see if he can get some players in cheap.

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moomooland says...
1:52pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Mumby was the best wrote:
He better start looking round the local amateur clubs to see if he can get some players in cheap.
The Bulls should sign you FAKE Mumby, we could use a new tackle bag, they might even knock out the peanut that's rattling around in your head :)

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Mumby was the best says...
2:19pm Mon 17 Sep 12

I agree, after the last 2 games when 120 points have been shipped in a tackle bag should be the 1st thing omargod should buy.

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Capabull says...
4:16pm Mon 17 Sep 12

murphyslaw wrote:
Disappointed???? Don't you guys understand? we are in a probationary period and you want to start already paying mega bucks for a top coach. Dream on! this club is on rebuild, NO top coaches NO big named prima donnas just steady progress with top blokes like Cummins helping the Bulls on the long journey back. If we give them the support they need and deserve there are interesting times ahead. Its great we have at last shaken off all the rubbish we have been carrying with the previous regime, We don't need to carry on knocking, they're GONE!! now get out and buy that season ticket.
Quite right and well put, also all coaches have to get their first job somewhere.
Its going to be a while before we will be in a position to win anything, but we have a club and in SL. Lets put up our money or shut up. (if only the fool who ruins this forum would)

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BullCharge says...
4:25pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Well, this is what we expected, and hopefully everything will go well next season.

Looking forward to seeing which players we retain and which players come in to the side.

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raisemeup says...
5:05pm Mon 17 Sep 12

JoJoCarr wrote:
Please can someone tell me what the new season ticket prices are?
Basics are Terraces early bird before 14th November at £180 Concessions £135 Juniors 12 to 16 £45 under 12s Free Stand prices approx. £40 more.

Soon to be fully announced but that's a starter for now. Hope it helps.

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New Hall Nev says...
5:22pm Mon 17 Sep 12

cheap coach dear tickets = not many fans lol well be playoff again next year youre in fight with cas for bottom hahaha

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Prycey says...
6:17pm Mon 17 Sep 12

A month ago we were on the verge of losing our club. We now have a new owner and have lost those wasters that were directors. We have a young coach who was good enough to be sent down under and has served his 7 year apprenticeship. OK, it may or may not work out for him but lets give the chap a chance as he is a Bulls coach and stuck with us when we needed him. We don't have spare cash to throw about on expensive has-beens. I am now keen to see who he keeps and brings in. He knows this may be his only chance so lets judge him after he has done his job for a while. Good luck Franny and everyone get up to Odsal and buy your season tickets asap. New start, new optmism. Roll on February. I can't wait for the season to start again now we are still alive and kicking.

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nosher says...
7:15pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Prycey wrote:
A month ago we were on the verge of losing our club. We now have a new owner and have lost those wasters that were directors. We have a young coach who was good enough to be sent down under and has served his 7 year apprenticeship. OK, it may or may not work out for him but lets give the chap a chance as he is a Bulls coach and stuck with us when we needed him. We don't have spare cash to throw about on expensive has-beens. I am now keen to see who he keeps and brings in. He knows this may be his only chance so lets judge him after he has done his job for a while. Good luck Franny and everyone get up to Odsal and buy your season tickets asap. New start, new optmism. Roll on February. I can't wait for the season to start again now we are still alive and kicking.
I agree lets stay positive. Will be stumping up my 180 squid as soon as the tickets go on sale.

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-HCK3R- says...
7:26pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Some people would have moaned no matter who was appointed, the guy deserves a chance and lets not forget he's got the backing of the players which is a big plus in his favour......good to see new hall nev is back after a couple of days sulking after his beloved wildcats were shown the door by the Rhinos......dont forget Wakey only made the play offs by the back door after the points deduction.....and are only in super league because Crusaders pulled out !!!

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raisemeup says...
7:47pm Mon 17 Sep 12

-HCK3R- wrote:
Some people would have moaned no matter who was appointed, the guy deserves a chance and lets not forget he's got the backing of the players which is a big plus in his favour......good to see new hall nev is back after a couple of days sulking after his beloved wildcats were shown the door by the Rhinos......dont forget Wakey only made the play offs by the back door after the points deduction.....and are only in super league because Crusaders pulled out !!!
Agreed we have to look to the future, and from my perspective Franny seems to be as he said today, ready and up for the challenge of leading a Super LeagueClub Certainly his background credentials as an assistant coach are significant and thorough.
AS for Nev, your post will have gone over his head, more than two sentences gives him headache, obviously.
Or of course he might be on an extended sentence, where he is?

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Mumby was the best says...
8:12pm Mon 17 Sep 12

It was hard enough before but with a monetary penalty imposed allegedly I cant see play offs possible next year either.

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Videoref says...
9:03pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Why all this negativity? In the past Brian Noble was promoted from assistant as was Mathew Elliott and Mick Potter was also assistant to Matty. OK Mcnamara didn't move mountains but was that his fault or the Directors and problems within the club?
Francis Cummins will have the respect of the players having worked with Potter and also for nothing through the recent dark days. A least he showed loyalty which is more than can be said for certain players. Give the chap a chance, buy your season tckets and get behind the club-if we are skint the only way is up and the only revenue will come from the fans and the sponsors and a bit from Sky. At least we are still a Superleague club. Think positive-half full glass not half empty!

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A N Oldman says...
9:13pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Videoref, there are those on here, who never have a good word for the Bulls, no matter what. Me, I wish Franny, every success, the lad deserves a chance. What a lot of people forget is that he was assistant coach at Leeds for two years plus two years under Potter, four years in all. Yes, of course he's ready to step up.

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Mumby was the best says...
9:51pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Well said viking.

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A N Oldman says...
10:01pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Can't you read, FAKE, it's A N Oldman, making comments. That actually includes you as one of those who never have a good name for Bulls.

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BierleyBoy says...
12:07am Tue 18 Sep 12

Good luck to him. Just hope the difficulties he's going to have to work through don't affect his ability to do the best he can.

Bulls aren't going to make the play offs again for a while & need season ticket sales to hold up to at least 6k on new prices. that's as many as before cheap deals of last 2 seasons. Massive task.

Biggest questions surround intentions for Odsal & if RFL has held on to lease or intends to.

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Tricky Dicky says...
3:56am Tue 18 Sep 12

Good luck to the lad. I have my reservations, hearing many plaudits given that were attached to the erstwhile Mr McNamara. But he is entering first grade coaching in a completely different set of circumstances to the aforementioned person. However, I would like to see a strong and experienced person appointed as his assistant (if one is available) as there are tough times ahead. But, onwards and upwards. Our full support is needed.

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Mumby was the best says...
5:40am Tue 18 Sep 12

Charles atlas ?

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oswald777 says...
8:01am Tue 18 Sep 12

He needs to get rid of Lee StHilaire straight away.

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Horton Lad says...
12:47pm Wed 19 Sep 12

We all have our own opinion's and think we can do better but wait and see.

We should get behind the new set up and give them a chance.

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