Bulls lose coach as Potter heads back to Oz

Potter, who has been at Odsal for the last two years after joining from St Helens, has earned many plaudits for the way he handled the adverse situation of the club being in administration and for galvanising his team together under such difficult circumstances.

Indeed, if not for a six-point deduction for breaking insolvency rules, battling Bradford would have reached the top eight this season for the first time in four years.

New owners Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe had hoped the Australian would stay - albeit on a heavily reduced contract - but today revealed he will head home.

“I was always going to return to Australia and I feel that now is the right time for me to go,” said Potter, who will seek a role in the NRL.

“I have recommended Francis Cummins as my successor. He has worked with me throughout my time at the club and in my opinion will become a very good First Team Coach.

“I have enjoyed my time at the Bulls and the supporters and people at the club are second to none. I feel too that despite circumstances out of our control the team, through the rugby league we played, showed a lot of character in the midst of terrible adversity.

“Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe have come in and rescued the club and were very keen for me to stay for a longer tenure and I made it clear to them that my decision has nothing to do with their purchase of the club.

“It has been the things that have happened over the previous five months that have caused my decision.

“I will be watching Bradford Bulls with a lot of interest from Australia and it goes without saying that I wish them every success in the future.”

Khan and Sutcliffe - who hope to imminently discover the club has a Super League future in 2013 and will not be demoted - have issued a joint statement.

“We are sorry Mick has chosen to leave because we wanted him to stay longer with us after the tremendous job he has done in difficult circumstances.

“He leaves with the best wishes of everyone at the club and we wish him well in the future. We hope to be able to announce a new coach early next week.”