Bradford Bulls coach Francis Cummins has confirmed that back-row forward Elliott Whitehead has asked to leave the club.

The 23-year-old, who signed for the Super League outfit in 2005, informed Cummins that he wants to prove himself at a bigger club.

"His agent Andy Clarke rang me last Friday and told me that Elliott wanted to leave because he didn't feel the progress of the club was what it should be, and that he wanted to test himself at a top-four club," Cummins told the outfit's official website.

"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."

The Catalan Dragons and Salford are both reportedly keen on signing Whitehead.