Bulls ask Elliott to start 'a dynasty'

The Bradford Bulls have opted for continuity by promoting their assistant coach, Matthew Elliott, to replace the departing Brian Smith.

"We are in the early stages of creating a dynasty here at Bradford," said the club's chairman, Chris Caisley, "and we are keen to continue the forward momentum commenced by Brian Smith."

Elliott, aged 32, played for Easts and St George in Sydney before becoming Smith's assistant at both St George and Bradford. "It's a tremendous honour to be given the responsibility of continuing to build on the success of the last 12 months," he said.

Martin Offiah finally completed his joint move to the London Broncos and Bedford yesterday. He will make his Broncos debut against Warrington tomorrow.

A combined fee of something less than pounds 300,000 has given the two clubs equal stakes in Offiah, who will play year-round, with what the London chairman, Barry Maranta, called "give and take" during the overlap between the seasons. Offiah has signed for three years with the Broncos and four with Bedford.

The League's chief executive, Maurice Lindsay, who was Wigan's chairman when they signed Offiah from Widnes for a world record pounds 440,000 in 1992, called the deal "a major turning point in the game".

Wigan's disgruntled captain, Shaun Edwards, is Keighley Cougars' first choice to replace the Great Britain coach, Phil Larder, whose contract is not being renewed.

The Cougars have talked to Edwards about the possibility of him becoming player-coach at the First Division club. But the Wigan chairman, Jack Robinson, said: "He is a contracted Wigan player and we expect him to carry on playing for us."