MATT Diskin and former Bulls boss Francis Cummins are on a shortlist to become Batley's new head coach from next season.

Current Bulldogs chief John Kear will rejoin Wakefield at the end of the year and Batley are in the process of finding his replacement.

Both Diskin and Cummins have been interviewed for the job, while former Featherstone Rovers boss Andy Hay and Batley assistant coach Craig Lingard are also in contention for the position.

Former Bradford captain Diskin retired from playing at the end of the 2014 campaign and has since served as under-19s boss and assistant first-team coach at Odsal.

The ambitious ex-Leeds Rhinos hooker is keen to become a head coach in his own right and it is understood Batley sought permission from the Bulls to speak to him.

Diskin has business interests outside of rugby league and the position with the part-time Bulldogs could suit him.

Cummins, meanwhile, is seeking to return to the game for the first time since being sacked by Bradford in June 2014.

He joined rugby union outfit Yorkshire Carnegie last year but left the club last month by mutual agreement.

Batley have made huge strides in the past couple of seasons under Kear and currently lie joint-top of the Championship with Leigh after eight rounds.

The Bulldogs won 44-30 at Heavy Woollen rivals Dewsbury on Good Friday, a match which Diskin and Cummins both attended.

Diskin took charge of the Bulls as interim head coach against Hull KR at Odsal in June 2014 after Cummins' departure and before Jimmy Lowes was appointed four days later.