Former Bradford Bulls head coach Francis Cummins has revealed he is ready to move back into coaching, admitting that as the new league restructure takes shape next year, there could be opportunities opening up for him to move back into a hotseat somewhere.
Cummins left Bradford midway through the 2014 season – a campaign that ultimately saw the Bulls relegated from Super League for the first time. He memorably worked without pay for three months after being made redundant during the club’s turbulent 2012 campaign, before being dismissed by chairman Marc Green in June this year.
And after that departure, he told the Telegraph and Argus that he’s ready to go once again, and says ideally, his next job would be in Rugby League rather than elsewhere.
“I could see the merry-go round starting again as clubs try and get into the top eight next season,” he said.
“Until then I need to keep educating myself and try a few different things. But I’m raring to go again. I need to make sure my next job is a good one and what’s right for me and my family.
“The ideal job would be in league. We had a tough time at Bradford but I enjoyed every minute of it, strangely.
“You learn a few lessons but I’ve come out of it intact. Although financially it wasn’t the best time of my career, I gained some great experience that will help in the future.”
Cummins did admit though, that he would be open to the possibility of working in rugby union, after spending time with current England coach Stuart Lancaster during his time out of the coaching game.
“Rugby union has been inundated with league coaches to sort their defences out but the thing that really interests me in that code is improving skill and attacking structures,” he said.
“They like the skills set we have in league and that’s where I’m probably in a good position. I reckon I could make some really big improvements somewhere from an attacking perspective.
“I recently met Stuart Lancaster, who I knew when he was at Leeds Tykes. When we got made redundant at Bradford in 2012 after the first administration, he was really good and asked how I was.
“It was great to chat to him about how he has changed the environment with England. He gave me some quality time and I appreciate that.”
