Mick Potter has started preparing Bradford Bulls for next week's derby with Leeds as he awaits further news on the club's future.
Potter was among the 16 full-time staff made redundant just over a week ago by administrator Brendan Guilfoyle, but returned on a voluntary basis to prepare the players for Sunday's home Super League game against London Broncos.
At the time the 48-year-old Australian insisted it was a one-off on his part amid growing fears for the future of the club, but an extension of the club's administration has ensured the next game at Headingley on Friday, July 20 will go ahead.
And Potter is already working on it.
"I'm planning that now, unless something untoward happens, all the coaching staff are," said Potter, who was given a guard of honour by the players at the end of the Bulls' 44-12 victory over the Broncos.
"We can't abandon the players. The alternative is they won't be prepped and you can't go into a game against Leeds under-done. You have to be at your best against Leeds.
"We're in the process of planning for that game, getting the information together that the players will need, and it will continue over the weekend.
"We'll be in tomorrow but the next training session when all the players are in will be on Monday. Some are doing extra at a local gym to maintain their strength and fitness."
While Potter is prepared to work without pay in the short term, he has continued his job search in Australia.
"I'm still voluntary and I'm getting in touch with Brendan to let him know what's going on," he said.
"It's unsustainable long-term and I need to find a job that actually pays its way. I'm still trying to make contact in Australia but it's proving very difficult because there are no positions in rugby league."
Guilfoyle extended his deadline to find a buyer to Friday, July 27 after a consortium of local Asian businessmen, known as ABC, followed up their initial interest, and he is now hoping for a formal offer from them.
The consortium, which includes the managing director of Akbar's Indian Restaurant Shabir Hussain and a group of local property developers, are seeking an assurance that Bradford will be allowed to continue in Super League and also want to buy back the Odsal lease from the Rugby Football League.
A stumbling block could be the RFL's concerns over what would happen to Odsal if they sold back the lease, amid fears the Bulls could move to Valley Parade.
The RFL's board of directors were expected to consider the requests today as well as deciding on the points deduction Bradford must suffer as a consequence of going into administration.
Former Bradford and Great Britain coach Brian Noble attended a meeting with representatives of the consortium and interim chief executive Gary Tasker earlier this week and is thought to have been lined up as a coaching consultant.
However, Potter, whose contract was due to run out at the end of the season, says he would be happy to work under the new owners.
"I don't think I would have a problem with anyone," he said. "I'm a pretty laid back sort of person."
With the RFL agreeing in principle to advance the club's monthly share of television income, the Bulls players are guaranteed their wages which are due on Friday.
And today Bradford fans launched a hardship fund to help the backroom staff who lost their jobs.
BullBuilder, the Bradford supporters' trust, say the fund will be administered by the club's pastor Warren Evans.
"We were concerned to do our best to ensure that their commitment to the Bulls' cause would not lead to financial hardship on their part," said spokesman Mike Farren.
"We guarantee that the fund will be ring-fenced for the specific purpose of helping these individuals and will be returned to the contributor if not used in this way."
The trust have also agreed to foot the bill for the club's academy team's trip to Hull KR this weekend and the cost of a physiotherapist to ensure the match goes ahead.
Potter said: "It's a lovely gesture and it shows the passion and commitment the fans have for the club.
"I feel they shouldn't need to be doing that sort of stuff but everybody should be grateful to the supporters."
