Bradford Bulls have confirmed that ex-St George captain Mick Potter will be their head coach for the 2011 Super League season.

The current St Helens boss was set to return to his native Australia at the end of the current campaign, but he will now remain in Britain to re-join the club he worked for as an assistant coach between 1996 and 1999.

The 46-year-old will replace England boss Steve McNamara, who was released from the top job at Odsal by mutual consent earlier this week.

"Mick was initially intent on returning home to Australia at the end of the current Super League season," Bulls chairman Peter Hood said.

"I'm delighted we were able to persuade him to change his mind and instead commit the next two years to Bradford Bulls.

"We are excited at the prospect of welcoming back one of our own, an exceptionally talented head coach with a proven track record of success."

Potter is the second Australian head coach to perform a U-turn inside a week after Huddersfield's Nathan Brown, another ex-Dragon, announced he would be staying on at the Galpharm Stadium next season instead of returning home.

Friday's announcement leaves St Helens with the only vacancy for 2011, with Wests Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons expected to be appointed as Potter's successor.

Catalans recently appointed Trent Robinson to succeed Kevin Walters from next season while Huddersfield called off their search for a new coach when Brown decided to see out his contract after all.

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