I was thinking this was reminiscent of the McNamara decision. I just hope that Cummins proves to be more up to the job. Cummins has been an assistant longer than McNamara was I think so should be more experienced.

Even Potter only got 2 years.

Like I said it's a gamble. What I hope we don't hear is the old chesnuts about "best young British coach" and "still learning" and all that.

Hopefully what everyone's been though will unite the dressing room behind him.

Potter only wanted 2 years when he signed, as he was off back to Aussie then

Franny getting 3 years is right,

year 1 - recover and re-stabilse the club
year 2 - strive for the playoffs
year 3 - top 4

Thats what I would be looking at in Mr Khans shoes, anything shorter sends the wrong message

That's rather optimistic. I'm not saying this to have a go, but I think hoping for a top four finish within three years, after the havoc McNamara brought to the club and your off-field troubles this year is a bit much. I think if you can make the play-offs in years 2 and 3 then that would be a massive achievement.

Hes young but im happy with the appointment of Cummins I think he will do a good job just what him to get all our star youth players on big contracts and let the rebuild begin

Especially if, as someone else has reported, we have to do it with half the Sky money that other clubs receive?

Year 1 - Play with Passion and Pride, try get the club back on tis feet
Year 2 - More stability, push to be in or around 8th
Year 3 - Playoffs as a target

That may be more realistic imo, although when you look what Wakefield have done then it is encouraging.

I agree with this.

Top 4 teams usually have more than a few players with real winning pedigree. We're not going to be splashing much cash in transfer fees so we'll have to develop our own. That means top 4 is some way off IMO.

Much though I would like to agree with your timescale I think next year it will be a major challenge just to get 13 players out on the pitch - so more realistically it going to take all three years to recover and re-stabilse - but maybe play-offs in year 3. I really hope I am wrong but we find ourselves in a position similar to Widnes for the 2013 squad, and I don't think OK will be able to bank-roll the Bulls in the same way Widnes have enjoyed or make up the alledged shortfall in Sky money.

This.

Think a lot depends on how many of our current contracted and ooc players we manage to retain. If bulk of them go the widens comparison seems fair. If we manage to keep majority then I'd say we're more on a par with situation widens will be on next year. A good core of players used to playing together, with a handful of new faces, is a different kettle of fish to a squad full of players still learning each others names. Think we're bound to see some signings that are of a stopgap 1 yr deal type just to give us some squad depth, although I'd expect some of younger player to maybe be thrown in earlier than we would have liked too.

Firstly, well done franny, and well deserved appointment given the loyalty demonstrated this year.

As for expectations, I understand we are looking to run the club on around 2/3rds of the wage bill of this year, so it will certainly be a big ask for the top 8. I like the fact that its 3 years, as this gives time to build, rather than FC be faced with making more short term moves for the sake of his own job.

I'd agree with this. And on this timescale, with realistic expectations from the terraces cheering on (hopefully) a group of commited and passionate players including plenty of our own youth products then I think FC's appointment is the right one for the position we find ourselves in. Its a bit of a gamble, but then any appointment we could afford would be , and I'd also have taken this one, on a loyal coach whos served his time as an apprentice and knows our players and systems.

Good luck Franny, 100% support from me. Now lets get the core of our good players and prospects signed up and lets see what sort of team we can put out next year. COYB!

+1

A tough job for him to take on, as has been said much will be dependant upon how many of the current squad remain.

I think the comparisons with us will be valid if you end up having to put a scratch side together. It clearly took Denis Betts half a season to get our "scratch" squad reasonably competitive. So ours was a very high risk approach and the Club admitted that they had originally wanted an experienced Australian coach in charge with DB as his assistant being groomed to replace him.

Lets hope Mr Cummins is as good and as ready as Mr Potter thinks. Clearly a great "backs to the wall" spirit carried the players on through the season (with the bubble bursting only when the future had been assured!). Can Cummings generate something similar for next season? Best of luck to him, I wish him well, although naturally not so well that you finish above us in 2013!