A THREE-MAN team will recommend a new head coach to Bulls co-owners Andrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe.

Operations manager Russ MacFarlane, head of youth John Bastian and football manager Stuart Duffy will oversee the initial part of the recruitment process following confirmation that Australian Geoff Toovey is not continuing in the hot seat.

There were strong rumours that former Huddersfield and Featherstone coach Jon Sharp was due to take over at Odsal.

But the club today confirmed they are inviting applications for the post and no interviews have taken place.

In a statement Duffy said: “We have begun the process of recruiting a head coach. I stress that no one has been interviewed for the role as yet and we are looking for suitably experienced and qualified coaches to send an expression of interest by e-mail to myself at the club by next Friday, November 24."

The statement continued: "The club senior management comprising Russ MacFarlane, John Bastian and Stuart Duffy will then look to short-list, interview and make a recommendation to co-owners Graham Lowe and Andrew Chalmers by early December.

"The club expect a formal appointment to be made no later than December 10."

With the Bulls having returned to pre-season training, Leigh Beattie has once again stepped up to serve as interim head coach before Toovey's successor is confirmed.