Really sorry to read this news, however I wish Mick the very best as he returns back to Australia.

Gained a lot of respect across the rugby circles for how he stayed with the Bulls on no pay reportedly(and all the staff) while you had the troubles, not many coaches would have I suspect.

Yes he was a school friend of my brother and they used to play cricket in the passage between the houses until "Tanker" go too big to fit in it!



Though please note that I am not suggesting, implying or in any other way indicating that his fondness for 2nd breakfast in any way impacts his ability to make the correct decisions for the RFL!

I think the difficulty with 'promotion from within' is far more pronounced when it's a former player of a club who takes over as coach; the transition from mate to boss isn't easy to cross and many don't manage it. Cummins though was never a player at Bradford so I'm not really sure it applies quite as much, though there is also the point that a managing duo may use the 'good cop - bad cop' approach, with the second in command being usually 'good cop', if he then assumes to top role he may find it hard to take on the mantle of 'bad cop' and the obvious changes in relationships involved.



The flaw in that is that I can't imagine MP ever being the 'bad cop', it seems out of character, to be honest. Alsdo at the end of the day Franny came with a good reputation and chances are he is looking for a head coach job, so if he doesn't get the job at Odsal he may well be off to pastures new. Do we want to lose both coaches? Maybe the new guy will come with a ready made no.2? Maybe.....

I noticed that bit as well. Maybe an indication that a decision re: SL status is imminent if their talking about announcing coach next week?

Thank you Mick. A remarkable job under unbelievable conditions. Absolute respect for what you have done for the Bulls.

I think some of the player's he's dropped recently might disagree.



Its almost impossible for fans to gauge how good an assistant coach is. Really you're just going on comments made by their ex boss or a few players. Everyone thought MacNamara would make a great Head Coach.

That was my thinking, I just hope its not actually new owners putting too much faith in rfl timings!



"end of this week" was mentioned by the rfl for outlining the process of picking our fate, so unless its a quick process (how unlikely!?)....or a done deal (either way)....its hard to see how we could announce a coach next week. [iUnless [/ithe new coach is wiling to work in any league for us, just to get a head coach position? With the final renumeration to be determined once we know our fate.

Having said what I did, Andy Hay has got 2 gigs as no.2 & I am not sure he can even speak, so WTF do I know?

Andy Hay was a decent second row, but as is often said, being a good player is no guide to being a good manager/coach.

You don't have to be a top player to be a top coach. Sir Peter Fox being a great example. In the modern game neither Brian or Tony Smith ammounted to much either.



The thing they had was a real strength of personality. I thought Potter had a presence too, not as much as Fox, but he had it. He certainly has more of it than McNamara. I fear Cummins is more in the McNamara mould - probably knows his stuff but lacks that ability to inspire. I'm only basing this on a few interviews I've heard on the radio so I could be talking out of my Harris. After all being good in front of a microphone is one thing but being a successful coach is another.

Andy Hay had a heart made of straw!



I think you should bring Noble on board, even if only for a year and then give FC a chance! Putting FC in the hot seat now with a reduced squad and what will probabaly be an unsettled team could break him. Best if he takes his first head coach job after things are more settled. Just my opinion that is!!