Francis Cummins looking forward to making step up after being appointed Bradford Bulls head coach I'm really happy with how it's come about. We are the bottom of the hill and we need to work really hard but I know it can be done. We had a real tough year but it's definitely made us as a group and it definitely helped me in my education as a coach. When you've got everyone working the right way, it's amazing what you can do. I'm looking forward to take the next step. Bradford sprung a surprise by handing Cummins a three-year deal, despite being given only a 12-month probational Super League licence, but the new coach is delighted to have the chance to build a long-term future. "It's huge," he added. I need three years to set out my stall. It's not going to happen next week, it's going to take time, and I need to be able to say to the players I'm in for the long run. Cummins enjoyed a one-club career with Leeds, for whom he made 356 appearances from 1993 to 2005, and also won three caps for Great Britain, before retiring at the age of 29 to go into coaching. Along with Potter, Cummins worked without pay for the last three months of the season after being made redundant by the administrator in early July. Sutcliffe said: "Mick was our first choice but he didn't want to do it for honourable reasons and we had no hesitation in taking his recommendation to offer the job to Francis. We are delighted he has accepted our offer. He's a man with a fantastic track record as a player but also a coaching career alongside Mick Potter and we believe he has a great opportunity to develop this club in the way we want to develop it. As a former sports minister, it's great to have an English coach and hopefully that will augur well for the future of rugby league in England.