PAUL Clough admits he cannot wait to get started with the Bulls – less than a year after he almost joined the club.

Former Bradford coach Francis Cummins came agonisingly close to signing Clough on loan from St Helens at the start of the 2014 campaign.

Clough instead accepted an offer to spend the rest of the year at Widnes but he is now raring to go in the red, amber and black as pre-season training gets underway next week.

The highly-regarded prop said: “I almost came to Bradford at the start of last season and, in a way, it came down to the flip of a coin because I’ve got a young family and Widnes were local to me.

“I remember ringing up Franny afterwards and I was gutted because he’s such a nice bloke and he really wanted me.

“But that was then and this is now. Circumstances have moved on and I’m here now – and I’m happy to be here.”

Clough has signed a two-year deal at Bradford and is confident the club can push hard for an immediate return to Super League.

His past year at Widnes was disrupted by injuries and he made only 12 Super League appearances.

The 27-year-old added: “It’s been a bit stop-start with a few injuries but ultimately the lads have been great with me.

“We had a good season after making the play-offs and the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, so I can’t complain.

“Personally I would have liked to have played a bit more but injuries have negated that so I’m looking forward to kicking on now at Bradford.

“I signed a two-year deal but I had a year left at Saints and I could have stayed there, especially as I had a testimonial coming up.

“So I’ve not come here because I’m desperate – I’ve come here because I want to come here and I believe the team can be successful.

“I think that speaks volumes for the club and for Bradford.

“I’ve not even thought about doing two years in the Championship and in my eyes the second year of the deal will be in Super League.”