Bulls coach hopes to keep stars as crunch talks loom

They agreed to release the Samoan international yesterday barely two months after signing him from Widnes Vikings with the injured second-row having yet to make a single appearance.

Troubled Bradford, embroiled in administration just 18 months ago, had warned supporters in early December that they faced yet another cash crisis and needed to save £400,000 to survive.

Redundancies, including in Cummins’s backroom staff, have been made but the West Yorkshire club was plunged into more crisis when their three-strong board of directors quit on Christmas Eve.

That occurred after they failed to agree the requisite deal for owner Omar Khan’s shares to complete a takeover but the RFL have since intervened to act as mediator in an attempt to smooth out the difficult process.

Indeed, the governing body’s chief operating officer, Ralph Rimmer, chaired a meeting last Monday which led to news that Mark Moore, Andrew Calvert and Ian Watt had not resigned and were, in fact, still in charge.

Purchase of the shares is still a contentious point, however, but all parties are set to meet once more on Thursday to try and finally reach a satisfactory conclusion.

With barely five weeks to their first Super League fixture of the new season – at home to Castleford Tigers – the situation has hardly aided preparation.

Cummins, though, is well versed in working amid such turbulent conditions and remains optimistic for a positive outcome.

“We have to be,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“There’s one thing in front of us and we have to continue and carry on and find a way of achieving.

“What’s been put in front of us is not of our doing and we have to keep going.

“It is tough. We’ve taken people on with the budget we had and I’ve said we can afford to pay their wages yet then had to turn around and say ‘No, we can’t. You’re redundant’.

“Everything is just waiting for Thursday now. We’ll see what happens then and who takes ownership of the club. Or whatever else comes of it.

“Whatever, we know the board will be looking for more cuts.

“We’ve had some offers for players but those players did not want to leave which is a good thing for us.

“They are enjoying what they are doing here despite the circumstances and that’s pleasing.”

Ex-Wakefield Trinity player Winterstein, 27, suffered a pectoral injury during Samoa’s first World Cup game against New Zealand and was set to miss the start of the new campaign.

He returned to his native Australia ahead of the Christmas period, having begun rehabilitation with Bradford, but has since opted to stay there.

“I am disappointed to lose anyone, but when I met Frank he did talk about an opportunity for him to play rugby union in Australia,” said Cummins.

“He was keen to play out one year with us here, in Super League, until he got back home.

“Him and his wife have just got married and I guess, for a player who has in the past witnessed financial difficulties at other clubs, the uncertainty wasn’t great for him.

“If an opportunity has arisen elsewhere for him then we cannot really stand in his way, given the fact we are attempting to make cuts to our playing budget.

“It is an unfortunate situation, but I believe we have adequate cover at second-row. He certainly added to our strength in depth, but there are four or five guys ready to fill that gap.”

London Broncos are believed to have enquired about both half-back Jarrod Sammut and prop Manase Manuokafoa but, so far, Cummins has not lost anyone other than Winterstein from his squad.

“There’s just been a couple (of offers),” he said.

“It’s a funny time of year. Most clubs are up to their full spend and there’s only certain players we’d look at cutting and not those in the mid-pay range.

“It’s all waiting now. Everything is on hold but we need things to move forward.

“By all accounts they had a good meeting last week but Mark, Andrew and all the directors all need to be there and they weren’t before.

“They should be on Thursday and we’ll see what happens.”

The ex-Leeds Rhinos assistant admits it will be cruel if his squad is decimated given the strides they have made in the off-season.

“If we keep the squad intact we’ll be in a good position,” he said, when asked about their prospects for 2014.

“The players have all improved their PBs (personal bests) and are looking in the best shape I’ve seen them. They have trained harder than ever before and have all done the stuff on the programme we’ve put together outstandingly well.

“It will be sad, then, if we don’t get to see the whole squad have a go this year.”

A promising start during Cummins’s first season in charge at Odsal last year eventually petered out as their squad depth was fully tested and they again failed to make the play-offs.

The campaign ahead promises to be arduous, too, but he remains confident they can hold their own if there is no further haemorrhaging to personnel.

“Danny Addy’s in great shape, while Chev Walker and Matt Diskin have had operations but are not far away now from full training,” he added. “They have done really well but, pleasingly, it’s just overall really; all these players are in great nick plus our younger lads are another year older and that makes them a bit stronger too.”

Bradford host Hull FC in their first pre-season friendly a week on Sunday.