BULLS' home-grown star Alex Mellor will begin training with Huddersfield Giants today after becoming the latest player to join the Odsal exodus.

The back-rower/centre penned a three-year deal with the Super League outfit yesterday to become yet another high-profile departure after Tuesday’s liquidation of the club rendered the entire squad free agents.

Kris Welham also signed a two-year contract with Salford yesterday, and Tom Olbison completed his switch to Widnes. As reported, Jason Walton has already joined Featherstone.

And with James Clare's two-year deal at Leigh confirmed late last night and Adam Sidlow also close to leaving, the dismantling of coach Rohan Smith’s squad appears to be happening quicker than anyone could have imagined.

For Mellor – who progressed through the Bulls youth system to establish himself as a first-team regular last season with 26 Championship appearances – making the jump to Super League is bitter-sweet.

The 22-year-old said: “It has been a hard time at Bradford for everyone involved and I can’t thank the club enough for what they have done for me.

“I have been there eight years, including scholarship, and I will be forever grateful to them.

“Like the rest of the lads I was devastated earlier in the week but to be honest I’d been well advised by my manager Craig Harrison and we’d been talking about the “what if scenario” – a frightening thought and one that sadly came to fruition.”

Mellor added: “I’m over the moon to be signing for the Giants, the set-up is second to none and there is a genuine opportunity for a place in the matchday 17, which is what my aim is.

“I start training today – I’m looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the squad and I can’t wait to get started under Rick Stone.”

Giants head coach Stone also had mixed emotions upon signing a highly-rated youngster who helped the Bulls to Championship Shield success last season.

Stone said: “Like everyone I am extremely disappointed to see the ways that things have unfolded at the Bulls.

“Frankly it’s a pretty shocking development for the game as a whole in this country and a wake-up call to everyone involved in the administration of our sport.

“From Alex’s perspective I guess he simply needed an opportunity and employment which I’m pleased that we are in a position to be able to offer him.

“His previous coach Rohan Smith spoke highly of his work ethic and professionalism as well as his ability, so for Alex to be keen to get himself straight back into the sport as a Giant is good for all concerned.

“As a coach you normally are quoted as being delighted and over the moon with your new recruits, but for this signing it is tinged with some sadness as to how its materialised.

“However, we have given a chance to a relatively local and young up-and-coming British player which is something that pleases me and will help our squad in the short and longer term. ”

Welham, who scored 29 tries in 30 appearances for the Bulls in 2016, has signed a two-year contract with the Red Devils.

Salford coach Ian Watson said: "The unfortunate situation with Bradford means we have been able to benefit with a quality addition to an area where we were short.

"Kris has proven over the years he is a Super League player with great ability. Everyone you speak to says he is a great guy with a good mentality so will fit well with what we are creating here at Salford."

Clubs have been given special dispensation on their salary cap to sign players from the Bulls, who will have to look to the loan market to build a team for their opening Championship match at Hull KR – provided the club is re-formed.

Head coach Smith has indicated his willingness to stay on, and one player set to follow suit is former Great Britain stand-off Leon Pryce, who rejoined his home-town club in the close season.

Pryce told former Bulls team-mate Robbie Hunter-Paul on his radio show: "Absolutely I'd still like to be involved.

“I'm a Bradford lad and I still live locally. We need to redevelop this club. We need a Bradford Bulls."