Whitehead hands in transfer request

Bradford coach Francis Cummins has revealed that second-rower Elliott Whitehead has handed in a transfer request.

Whitehead, 23, told Cummins that he didn’t feel the Bulls were making enough progress and that he wishes to join a top-four club.

The Bulls coach has subsequently accepted Whitehead’s request and placed the Bradford-born player on indefinite leave until a sale can be agreed.

He will not train with his team-mates and has been informed by Cummins that he will not feature in Sunday’s important clash with St Helens.

Whitehead only signed a new contract with the Bulls last year and is under contract at the Provident Stadium until 2016 but had his agent inform Cummins of his desire to leave last Friday.

Cummins said: “I kept it professional and decided he would play at Hull KR last Sunday and I then sat down with Elliott first thing on Monday morning.

“Elliott again reiterated what his agent had said about us not making the progress he had anticipated and wanting to test himself at a top-four club.

“I asked Elliott ‘is there anything else I or the club could have done better?’ He answered ‘no’ and is now on leave until the situation is resolved.

“I can’t have players in my squad who don’t want to be here. I rang Elliott on Tuesday night to tell him he’s on leave until the situation can be resolved.”

Catalans Dragons and Salford City Reds are among the early favourites to sign Whitehead.