Loyal Odsal servant Brian Noble was today confirmed as Bradford Bulls' new head coach in succession to Matthew Elliott.

It bucks the trend of overseas appointments throughout the game and will make him the only English coach in Super League when the 2001 campaign kicks-off next February.

The 39-year-old former Great Britain Lions skipper successfully completed talks with the club last night and will sign a two-year contract.

Bulls had originally intended to leave an announcement until the end of the season but they moved quickly today to bring to an end a week of speculation following Elliott's announcement last Thursday that he is returning Down Under to become co-coach at Canberra Raiders.

Noble, who is currently assistant coach, told the Telegraph and Argus: "I am absolutely delighted to have got the job.

"It has been a lot of good, hard work for the last five years and I know that I have learned a lot in that time and I think the club have recognised the fact that stability is a huge issue in sports clubs.

"I only ever wanted to be judged on my credentials and, despite the intense speculation in the press, the board have always been strong in that area and never intimated that I would not be in the frame.

"I am sure that they have made the correct decision."

Chairman Chris Caisley said: "It has always been part of the Bulls continuing philosophy to create a strategy that allows people to progress through the ranks and that is no different in the coaching set-up.

"I am delighted that Brian has accepted as I feel he is the best man for the job. The reason we chose him is purely down to the impressive work he has put into the club over the last five years."

Bulls' chief executive Abi Ekoku said: "The board was only concerned with appointing the best qualified person for the job. Loyalty and sentimentality did not come into it.

"There were some high quality candidates from home and overseas and that was very gratifying and said a lot about the esteem with which the club is held across the world.

"But Brian stood out and the board believe he gives us the best possible chance of taking the club forward and building on the progress of the last five years.

"Now everyone knows where they stand but it is important that the announcement does not deflect us from the vital task of beating Wigan this weekend and reaching the Grand Final."

Noble left the club in 1994 for a brief spell as player and assistant coach at Wakefield Trinity but by the start of the Super League era was back at Odsal and has served his coaching apprenticeship under Brian Smith and Elliott.