KRIS Welham insists he has “no regrets” about joining the Bulls – but admits he did expect the club to perform far better this season.

The former England Knights centre arrived from Hull KR on a two-year deal during the winter and has enjoyed a fine personal campaign.

He has become a mainstay in the side and is approaching 20 tries for the season, with the Bulls’ recent financial troubles prompting speculation about him returning to a Super League club.

But Welham remains under contract at Odsal for 2017 and is looking forward with optimism to the rest of the year and beyond.

The 29-year-old said: “I've no regrets so far and I love it here because it's a great set-up and we have a great set of lads.

“But I did expect to have done better and be in the middle eights at the end of the season.

“People are paid to do a job and this year we haven't done it.

“We have around 45 players – that's the biggest squad I've ever been involved in and is stupid numbers.

“When these people were brought in on one or two-year contracts, whether that was before I was here or when I have been here, the coaches at the time believed that they could do a job.

“We can't influence that as players but as a team we have underperformed this year.

“Regardless of what has gone on behind the scenes, Bradford are a big club and should have made the top four.

“We are in this Championship Shield and Bradford should be doing better than that in my expectations.

“Even if we do go on and win it, I don't think it's anything to shout about.

“We have had a very poor year by our own expectations and winning the Championship Shield will do nothing for us.

“I don't think the fans would even be too chuffed about it.

“But we don't want to lose another game now and, if that happens, it will result in us winning the Shield.”

Welham spent a decade with the Robins, scoring his 100th and final try for the club against Bradford during last year’s Qualifiers.

He was on target again in last week’s win at Whitehaven, which saw the Bulls return to winning ways after losing at Featherstone and then being paid a week late.

Welham added: “It was out in the press about us getting knocked out of the top four by Featherstone and the trouble at the club in the past week or so.

“It has been pretty difficult to keep turning up to training and going about your business as usual with that lurking over your head.

“I had never experienced that before, but we were reassured by Marc Green that everything would be sorted and the club would carry on as normal.

“He was as good as his word, so it was great to go up to Whitehaven and get a good win.

“Alex Mellor got thrown in at centre and did a great job because he's a very versatile player who can play anywhere.

“Last weekend showed that – he made plenty of strong runs and scored three tries.

“All the focus is on beating Halifax now. We haven't set a target but for me personally, I don't want to lose a game now and would like to see us win them all.”

Looking ahead to next season, Welham added: “I think we have got a very good backline pretty much sorted.

“The forwards are good as well, but we probably need a little bit more experience to guide the younger players through.

“Hopefully the coaching staff and Marc Green himself can recognise that and bring one or two of those bigger players in.”

BRADFORD'S Under-19s last racked up a thumping 86-6 win over the Newcastle Thunder Academy at Kingston Park to move above Widnes and into the play-off places.