Bulls chief stands by McNamara

Bradford coach Steve McNamara's position is secure despite the Bulls' woeful start to the season, according to chairman Peter Hood.

The Bulls' worst-ever start to a Super League campaign was compounded on Sunday by a spectacular 40-38 defeat by Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup in which they squandered a 26-0 lead. Hood did not travel to France and so will meet McNamara for face-to-face talks on Tuesday, although he insists he will not bow to pressure to sack his coach.

"It's not a crisis meeting or special talks or anything like that," Hood told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. "However, obviously there's a need to sit down and talk as I want to understand a bit more about exactly what went wrong. Sacking the coach is not on the agenda."

He added: "We're not about to start panicking. It is uncomfortable and very tough being where we are right now.

"It's tough being dumped out of the Challenge Cup, especially the way we were on Sunday, and I appreciate it's tough not just for the players, the staff and the club, but the fans as well.

"But we'll come through it and we need to stick together."

Bradford's next match is against champions Leeds in Friday's derby at Odsal, where they will be looking for only their second win of 2009.