Bradford Bulls coach Matthew Elliott is set to end months of speculation by agreeing to stay at Odsal.

The Australian is poised to sign a new contract with the Challenge Cup winners despite having been linked with top coaching jobs in Australia such as at Newcastle Knights and his old club St George Illawarra Dragons.

Elliott says he is ready to put pen to paper in the next week after talks with chairman Chris Caisley.

"I have to stress that negotiations are not complete yet but Chris and I basically agree and it's just a matter of dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's," he said.

"To be honest, it has never been a distraction for me because I'm so committed to the club and the players I have here. I feel I have been asked about it enough, but it hasn't really been a problem for me.

"I really love being coach at Bradford and that has been a massive factor in my decision.

"But I'm a professional sports person and you have to consider what your options are. The options in Australia weren't the ones I wanted to pursue."

Elliott, whose roll of honour with the Bulls includes a Super League title win in 1997 and this year's Challenge Cup success, said another decisive factor was the club's ambitious stadium plans.

"If that wasn't on the horizon I wouldn't stay," he said.

Caisley said the contract talks had gone without a hitch.

"There haven't been any stumbling blocks at all," he said. "I don't think there was ever any great urgency from either of us to resolve the situation - that has all been created by the media linking Matthew to other jobs.

"We just chatted things through. It has not taken a great deal of time to sort out.

"We should be clarifying the issue over how long his contract will be in the next week but clearly we expect him to be head coach next season."

The Bulls' more immediate concern is the visit of Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants tomorrow (6pm) as they look to secure their third win in nine days.

Scott Naylor (ankle), Justin Brooker (hand) and Stuart Spruce (knee) are all certain to miss out through injury while Brad Mackay and Mike Forshaw will be given until tomorrow afternoon to prove their fitness.

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