Bulls skipper Paul Deacon has brought an end to an impressive Odsal career after signing for home-town club Wigan.

The 30-year-old scrum half was granted a release by Bradford today and will take up a dual playing and coaching role at The DW Stadium.

Since joining the Bulls from Oldham in 1998, Deacon has won every major honour in the club game and is the club's record points-scorer, having amassed 2,605 points in 326 appearances.

A former Great Britain international, Deacon has been club captain since 2007 and will go down as a Bulls legend.

Chairman Peter Hood said: "Paul Deacon has been a wonderful servant to Bradford Bulls and he embarks on the next stage of his rugby career with our very best wishes.

"I doubt that his record points tally will ever be surpassed and, while he would doubtless have gone on to add to that number had he continued to play for us, all good things must one day come to an end.

"Paul has decided that now is the right time to bring down the curtain on his illustrious Bulls career.

"The club fully respects Paul’s decision and has agreed to his request that he be released from the remainder of his contract.”

Deacon played in all five of the Bulls' consecutive Super League Grand Finals earlier this decade, picking up the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match in 2002.

A three-time Super League champion, three-time World Club champion and two time Challenge Cup winner, he celebrated his testimonial in 2008.

Hailing from Standish in Wigan, Deacon still lives in the area and is excited by the opportunity to work with new-look coaching team Michael Maguire and Shaun Wane at Wigan.

Deacon said: "I would like to thank the Bradford club, their fans, players, coaching staff, management and board for 11 truly memorable years.

"It has been an honour to play and captain the team but I hope they can understand the great opportunity I now have to progress my career beyond my playing days. To work alongside Michael and Shaun really excites me and I can’t wait to get started.

"I have always harboured a desire to play for my home-town team and I hope to help Wigan win some silverware before I hang up the boots."

Bulls chief Steve McNamara added: "Paul has been outstanding over a large period of time and has been particularly strong over the past 12 months when it's been difficult at times.

"He's been good for the club and good for me as a coach. It's sad to see him go but it would be a shame for him to miss on an opportunity like this."