A pair of familiar faces appear to be leading the way in the race to succeed Steve McNamara as Bulls boss.

Brian McDermott and Mick Potter have emerged as the most likely candidates to take charge next season, with a decision from the club’s board expected imminently.

Harlequins boss McDermott has been linked with the vacancy from the outset, having missed out on the England job to McNamara.

During four years in the capital, the former Royal Marine has established himself as one of the leading English coaches in Super League and is already a Bradford favourite following a dazzling decade as a player at Odsal.

Potter’s emergence though has come as more of a surprise.

The St Helens chief had initially been expected to head home to Australia when his current deal expired but now appears keen to stay in England.

Another Bulls old boy, Potter started his coaching career as assistant to former boss Matt Elliott, spending three years at the club between 1996 and 1998.

At one point, he had been seen as the natural successor to Elliott but personal circumstances led him to continue his coaching career Down Under and Brian Noble instead became next in line.

Further names linked with the post include former Huddersfield coach Jon Sharp, currently Noble’s No 2 at Crusaders, Leigh boss Ian Millward and Bradford legend Jimmy Lowes, now Warrington assistant.

Wakefield chief John Kear’s name was also mentioned but the Bulls would have been reluctant to pay any compensation required to buy him out of the remaining year of his contract.

Of the apparent candidates, Potter’s CV appears the most impressive upon first glance.

Handed the Catalans Dragons hot-seat in 2006, the two-time Dally M Medal winner led the Frenchmen to unexpected heights, including a Challenge Cup final appearance in 2007 and a third-place Super League finish the following season, when he was also named coach of the year.

Following a switch to Saints, Potter led them to last year’s Grand Final, where they were beaten by Leeds, and has overseen another impressive campaign this time round.

The Merseysiders currently sit third in Super League and have reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, while a host of talented youngsters have been brought through to complement the Knowsley Road old guard.

Hampered by a tight budget, McDermott has not experienced such obvious success on the pitch. Quins are currently 13th, having missed out on the play-offs in each of the past four seasons.

But the Londoners have made undoubted progress under the 40-year-old’s tutelage, most notably through their youth development pathways.