STUART Duffy says the Bulls want to appoint a head coach with longevity whom they can "plan a future on".

The club are currently inviting applications for the vacant role following confirmation that Geoff Toovey would not be returning for a second year at the helm.

As of yesterday afternoon, Duffy said the club had received around ten applications ahead of tomorrow's close-of-business deadline.

He believes fans will be pleased by some good quality names who are in the frame for what he hopes ideally will be a long-term appointment.

Asked what criteria were important, Duffy said: "We want the right person for the job, who can take the club forward and has got some longevity and whom we can plan a future on and build a culture at the club.

"We don't want to be changing coaches every year. We want a stable environment. It is an attractive job and has attracted some good candidates."

Bradford face a journey into the unknown next year after dropping down into the third tier following relegation from the Championship. But Duffy said experience of coaching at the lower level was not a prerequisite.

He said: "You wouldn't want to be turning a Wayne Bennett down just because he has no experience of coaching at a lower tier – but then again, it might be somebody from lower down. We have no preconceived ideas."

Those who have been linked with the job include former Featherstone and Huddersfield coach Jon Sharp, Dewsbury's Neil Kelly, who is currently out of contract, and Australian former Leeds Rhinos forward Matt Adamson.

The 45-year-old Adamson was Melbourne Storm's National Youth Competition head coach and was once assistant to former Bulls chief Matthew Elliott at NRL club Penrith Panthers.

The Bulls are set to start interviewing candidates next week, with an announcement due on the new coach by December 10 at the latest.

The squad are now into their third week of pre-season but Duffy insisted the club must get the decision right.

"We want the right person and don't want to rush into it and get the wrong one,"he said.

"(Interim head coach) Leigh Beattie is doing a tremendous job and players know the structure and what is expected.

"There is an emphasis on strength and conditioning at the moment but we are aware that we have a friendly on Boxing Day, so we have to get ready to start planning for that."