Relief for Cummins as reinforcements loom

Bradford Bulls' coach Francis Cummins.Bradford Bulls' coach Francis Cummins.
Bradford Bulls' coach Francis Cummins.
BRADFORD BULLS head coach Francis Cummins is hoping to be able to strengthen his squad in the coming days.

With new owner Marc Green having dragged the club out of administration on Wednesday, he has begun the process of identifying potential recruits.

Admittedly, Cummins is yet to discover just what funds will be in place, but there will not be any new arrivals before Sunday’s trip to in-form Widnes Vikings.

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But he said: “Part of my job is to keep an eye on everything that is going on anyway.

“I don’t know if I’m a millionaire or we have to find another way.

“I’ve got all kinds of lists and that’s part of my job.

“So you think we’ve got no money, but if we had then what happens and who would I like?

“Is there anyone available? Is there someone who would fit our group? That’s a constant for a coach these days.

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“We’re in round seven but you get to round 10 and things start to happen – players not getting game-time, there are a few fall-outs or even NRL players start to become available.

“We’ve got to keep our finger on the pulse there.

“There are things happening all the time and there are enquiries going on now.

“But you don’t know how long it will take and what I’ve found since becoming a head coach is that some happen very quickly and others drag on.”

Cummins, meanwhile, revealed how – before Green’s intervention – he even stopped watching his local club Dewsbury Celtic as the uncertainty over Bradford’s financial problems intensified.

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“It just drains you and (now) we won’t have to answer the same questions from your missus, mum or dad,” he said.

“You even tend to not go places.

“I enjoy watching my old amateur club and I’ve not gone for a few weeks because you just get drained of people asking ‘how is it? How are you?’

“Although it’s nice that they are concerned, you would like to make one big announcement that you don’t know what’s going on. But now it just feels that we are ready to go again and hopefully get some support for the players and a few numbers.”

Meanwhile, Bradford’s long-serving head of youth Paul Medley has left Odsal to take up the role of RFL’s National Player Development Manager.

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