rlpotter back to ozrl

Thanks for all the hard work and effort above and beyond mick. A true Bradford legend.

Thanks and good luck.

Nobby was an ex Northern player, that's true but there was a sizeable gap between him playing and coaching the club, If memory serves he finished his playing career at Wakefield and started his coaching there too, then had a spell in Australia with Jack Gibson before returning to Bradford under Brian Smith and finally being handed the reins after the departure of Matty Elliott. I can't speak for others but my thoughts on promotion from within were on the basis of 'promotion from the shop floor to the office', a situation where you are mates with the people you have to rule over; I doubt any of Nobby's former team mates were still at the club when he took over as head coach, so that didn't really arise.

Fair point-- there was a significant gap between playing and coaching. However that comment of mine was meant as an aside -- the main argument I tried to get across was to disagree with those who said promoting from assistant to head coach was necessarily flawed. Elliot and Noble came through the ranks-- and yes so did Steve Mc. So there is no golden rule.
As regards Francis Cummins I know that Mick Potter is a far better judge than I . It's unlikely to be just loyalty that prompted him to recommend his assistant.
The quotes from Mick P in today's T & A do suggest that there is no bad feeling between him and the new owners. From that we can be confident that they will treat other staff and players with respect.

From hearing OK and GS Talking about MP, there is clearly nothing but goodwill between all the parties. OK indeed comes across as a pretty uplifting and positive guy, and both he and GS are so obviously very passionate about the club and it's future. Definite reasons to be positive there.

For my own part, I wish Mick had stayed but can fully understand why he was worn out with it all. If he thinks Frannie Cummins is the man for the job, I am not about to argue against that. And, from all I hear, FC conducted himself with absolute honour and integrity throughout all this horrid period. I am unsure that be said of certain other possible candidates?

Another reason for going with FC is that he's ambitious and known to be wanting a head coach role, so if he's overlooked, it might mean we'll need two new coaches if he goes elsewhere. As you say Potter's judgement has to be respected; he's worked with the guy and knows him.

And it's not as if he's being just thrust into it, he's served a long apprentiship under 3 quality coaches. I think he's ready.