Breaking: Bradford Bulls coach Steve McNamara departs

STRUGGLING Bradford have released head coach Steve McNamara from his contract with immediate effect.

By The Newsroom

Published 13th Jul 2010, 12:33 BST

Updated 13th Jul 2010, 12:57 BST

McNamara was due to leave the Bulls at the end of the season, when his contract was due to expire, to go full-time with England.

But the club have acted now in a bid to halt an eight-match winless run.

The former Great Britain forward is now free to concentrate on his job with the Rugby Football League in the build-up to the end-of-season Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand.

In a statement, Bradford said: "The club thanks Steve for his commitment and unstinting hard work as head coach since 2006.

"His legacy at the club is a youth development system that will pay dividends for the club for many years to come."

More later.